The state is based on this contradiction. It is based on the contradiction between public and private life, between universal and particular interests. For this reason, the state must confine itself to formal, negative activities.

My object in life is to dethrone God and destroy capitalism.

The true law of economics is chance, and we learned people arbitrarily seize on a few moments and establish them as laws.

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.

The state is the executive committee of the ruling class.

We have no compassion and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror.

Political economy regards the proletarian like a horse, he must receive enough to enable him to work. It does not consider him, during the time when he is not working, as a human being. It leaves this to criminal law, doctors, religion, statistical tables, politics, and the beadle.