As in private life one differentiates between what a man thinks and says of himself and what he really is and does, so in historical struggles one must still more distinguish the language and the imaginary aspirations of parties from their real organism and their real interests, their conception of themselves from their reality.
Karl MarxIs it a misfortune that magnificent California was seized from the lazy Mexicans who did not know what to do with it.
Karl MarxThere are no bigger donkeys than these workers.... Look at our 'craftsmen'; Sad that world history should be be made with such people.
Karl MarxThe French need a thrashing. If the Prussians win, the centralization of state power will be useful for the centralization of the German working class. German predominance would also transfer the center of gravity of the workers' movement in Western Europe from France to Germany, and one has only to compare the movement in the two countries from 1866 until now to see that the German working class is superior to the French both theoretically and organizationally.
Karl Marx