The bureaucracy takes itself to be the ultimate purpose of the state

History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches, it does not fight battles. It is men, real, living, who do all this.

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

Religion is only the illusory sun which revolves round man as long as he does not revolve round himself.

Advances in science help to delegitimize the rule of kings and the power of the Church.

The redeeming feature of war is that it puts a nation to the test. As exposure to the atmosphere reduces all mummies to instant dissolution, so war passes supreme judgment upon social systems that have outlived their vitality.

We know that violent measures against religion are nonsense; but this is an opinion: as socialism grows, religion will disappear. Its disappearance must be done by social development, in which education must play a part.