Vladimir Lenin

Founding leader of the Soviet Union (1870–1924)

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Lived 1870–1924, aged 54

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Wikipedia
211 languages
Cross-language footprint
Global rank
#62
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Era
1870–1924
Aged 54
Known for
Prince Temir Bulat
1916

Summary

Updated 2026-08-31

He led the October Revolution that toppled the Russian Empire and built the world's first communist state, then won a civil war that killed millions and installed a one-party dictatorship that would shape the entire 20th century.

Biography

About

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov turned to revolutionary socialism after his brother was executed in 1887 for plotting to kill the Tsar. Expelled from university, he became a Marxist activist, was exiled to Siberia, then spent years in Europe leading the Bolshevik faction that believed a vanguard party must seize power for the proletariat. He returned to Russia in 1917 after the February Revolution and spearheaded the October seizure that made him head of Soviet Russia. His government abolished private land, nationalized industry, withdrew from the First World War, and centralized control under the Com…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Vladimir Lenin

Vladimir Lenin

said1905

Only the most ignorant people can close their eyes to the bourgeois nature of the which is now taking place.

— "Two Tactics of Social Democracy in the Democratic Revolution"

Vladimir Lenin

said1905

Everyone is free to write and say whatever he likes, without any restrictions.

— Party Organization and Party Literature (1905)

Vladimir Lenin

said1904

In its struggle for power the proletariat has no other weapon but organisation.

— Lenin Anthology, pp. 119

Vladimir Lenin

said1904

One step forward, two steps back. ... It happens in the lives of individuals, and it happens in the history of nations and in the development of parties.

— Lenin Anthology, p. 119

Vladimir Lenin

said1899

The progressive historical role of capitalism may be summed up in two brief propositions: increase in the productive forces of social labour, and the socialisation of that labour.

— Chapter Eight

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

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