Leon Trotsky

The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.

Abusive language and swearing are a legacy of slavery, humiliation, and disrespect for human dignity, one’s own and that of other people.

Where force is necessary, there it must be applied boldly, decisively and completely. But one must know the limitations of force; one must know when to blend force with a maneuver, a blow with an agreement.

Fascism is a caricature of Jacobinism.

In a serious struggle there is no worse cruelty than to be magnanimous at an inopportune time.

The dynamic of revolutionary events is directly determined by swift, intense, and passionate changes in the psychology of classes which have already formed themselves before the revolution.

Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.

For truth is precious and divine, too rich a pearl for carnal swine.

Truth isn’t truth.

When in doubt tell the truth.

It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tost upon the sea: a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battle and the adventures thereof below: but no pleasure is comparable to standing upon the vantage ground of truth… and to see the errors, and wanderings, and mists, and tempests, in the vale below.

Most writers regard the truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are economical in its use.

Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn’t.

The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our enemies in attempts to hurt us. But the American people are entitled to it, nonetheless.

I have such a high regard for the truth that I use it sparingly.

Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth

It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, ‘Go away, I’m looking for the truth.’ and so it goes away. Puzzling.

All truth is not to be told at all times.

Why shouldn’t truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.

To tell the truth is very difficult, and young people are rarely capable of it.

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.