---
title: Leon Trotsky
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/leon-trotsky/
description: 3 verified quotes from Leon Trotsky, Bolshevik revolutionary; People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of Soviet Russia, 1918-1925, with sources.
section: FRAME
---

![Illustration: an interwar radio-and-newsreel intelligence collage with a 1930s map of Europe and propaganda poster proofs.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/detail/hero-interwar.jpg)

[Quotes](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/) · Russia

# Leon Trotsky

Bolshevik revolutionary; People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of Soviet Russia, 1918-1925 · Russia

3 quotes, oldest first. [Filter with other speakers](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/#speaker=leon-trotsky).

1. **Content note:** Defends intimidation as a tool of policy (Red Terror). The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “Intimidation is a powerful weapon of policy, both internationally and internally. War, like revolution, is founded upon intimidation.” — English: English edition printed by the Workers Party of America as 'Dictatorship vs. Democracy' (Terrorism and Communism), as hosted by Marxists Internet Archive; translator not named on the page. Original-language text not found. — 1920 · Book Verified (secondary source) — From his reply to Karl Kautsky's book on terrorism, written during the Russian Civil War. Trotsky treats intimidation as an ordinary instrument of both war and revolution. — Leon Trotsky, Terrorism and Communism (1920; American edition Dictatorship vs. Democracy), chapter 4, 'Terrorism' [Source](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1920/terrcomm/ch04.htm)
2. **Content note:** Defends killing to intimidate and break a class's will (Red Terror). The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “A victorious war, generally speaking, destroys only an insignificant part of the conquered army, intimidating the remainder and breaking their will. The revolution works in the same way: it kills individuals, and intimidates thousands.” — English: English edition printed by the Workers Party of America as 'Dictatorship vs. Democracy' (Terrorism and Communism), as hosted by Marxists Internet Archive; translator not named on the page. Original-language text not found. — 1920 · Book Verified (secondary source) — Same chapter of the reply to Kautsky. He compares the effect of revolutionary killing on a class with the effect of a victorious war on a defeated army. — Leon Trotsky, Terrorism and Communism (1920; American edition Dictatorship vs. Democracy), chapter 4, 'Terrorism' [Source](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1920/terrcomm/ch04.htm)
3. **Content note:** Defends the Red Terror as a continuation of armed insurrection. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “In this sense, the Red Terror is not distinguishable from the armed insurrection, the direct continuation of which it represents.” — English: English edition printed by the Workers Party of America as 'Dictatorship vs. Democracy' (Terrorism and Communism), as hosted by Marxists Internet Archive; translator not named on the page. Original-language text not found. — 1920 · Book Verified (secondary source) — Follows directly after the sentence on revolution killing individuals and intimidating thousands. Trotsky describes the Red Terror as a continuation of the armed insurrection of 1917. — Leon Trotsky, Terrorism and Communism (1920; American edition Dictatorship vs. Democracy), chapter 4, 'Terrorism' [Source](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1920/terrcomm/ch04.htm)