Karl Liebknecht quotes

Karl Liebknecht was a German socialist and anti-militarist, best known as a co-founder of the Spartacist League and Communist Party of Germany. His opposition to World War I and advocacy for social justice made him a prominent figure in the German leftist movement. He became a symbol of resistance against war and oppression, and remains influential in socialist history. Here are 25 of his quotes:

Like a cyclone, imperialism spins across the globe; militarism crushes peoples and sucks their blood like a vampire.

Karl Liebknecht

Imperialism is not the creation of any one or any one group of states.

Karl Liebknecht

Just as invasion is the true and tried weapon in the hands of capital against the class struggle, so on the other hand the fearless pursuit of the class struggle has always proven the most effective preventative of foreign invasions.

Karl Liebknecht

For capitalism, war and peace are business and nothing but business.

Karl Liebknecht

The basic law of capitalism is you or I, not both you and I.

Karl Liebknecht

Long live the liberation of the workers off all countries from the infernal chasm of war, exploitation and slavery!

Karl Liebknecht

The aim of my life is the overthrow of monarchy.

Karl Liebknecht

Passive fatalism can never be the role of a revolutionary party, like the Social Democracy.

Karl Liebknecht

The failure of the Russian Socialist Republic will be the defeat of the proletariat of the whole world.

Karl Liebknecht

Consider well this fact: As long as the German people does not arise and use force directed by its own will, the assassination of the people will continue.

Karl Liebknecht

International socialism recognizes the right of free independent nations, with equal rights.

Karl Liebknecht

But Socialism, alone, can bring self-determination of their peoples.

Karl Liebknecht

The Russian revolution was to an unprecedented degree the cause of the proletariat of the whole world becoming more revolutionary.

Karl Liebknecht

Incendiary capitalism is carrying its out evil works more dangerously than ever, and is doing so in the increasingly dangerous neighborhood of the powder kegs that are the great European military powers.

Karl Liebknecht

In capitalist history, invasion and class struggle are not opposites, as the official legend would have us believe, but one is the means and the expression of the other.

Karl Liebknecht

Class struggle: external peace, international solidarity, peace among peoples. This is the sacred slogan of international socialist democracy that liberates nations.

Karl Liebknecht

The new Germany has the unquestionable right to hold its tongue between its teeth.

Karl Liebknecht

In the present imperialistic milieu there can be no wars of national self-defense.

Karl Liebknecht

This republic represents the greatest basis for that universal socialist order, the creation of which is at the present time the historic task of the International Proletariat.

Karl Liebknecht

Workers, comrades, and you, women of the people, let not this festival of May, the second during the war, pass without protest against the Imperialist Slaughter.

Karl Liebknecht

Through this experience we have been warned - learn everything, don't forget anything!

Karl Liebknecht

Yes, Socialists should defend their country in great historical crises.

Karl Liebknecht