Eduard Bernstein quotes

Eduard Bernstein was a German social-democratic theoretician and politician, known as a founder of revisionist socialism. His works challenged orthodox Marxism by advocating for gradual social reforms through democratic means. He greatly influenced the modern evolution of social democracy. Here are 7 of his quotes:

The parties which assumed the names of liberals were, or became in due course, simple guardians of capitalism.

Eduard Bernstein

We may think as we like theoretically, about man's freedom of action, we must practically start from it as the foundation of the moral law, for only under this condition is social morality possible.

Eduard Bernstein

Democracy is the high school of compromise.

Eduard Bernstein

Democracy is in principle the suppression of class government, though it is not yet the actual suppression of classes.

Eduard Bernstein

If democracy is not to excel centralised absolutism in the breeding of bureaucracies, it must be built up on an elaborately organised self-government with a corresponding economic, personal responsibility of all the units of administration as well as of the adult citizens of the state. Nothing is more injurious to its healthy development than enforced uniformity and a too abundant amount of protectionism or subventionism.

Eduard Bernstein

The aim of all socialist measures, even of those which appear outwardly as coercive measures, is the development and the securing of a free personality. Their more exact examination always shows that the coercion included will raise the sum total of liberty in society, and will give more freedom over a more extended area than it takes away.

Eduard Bernstein