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.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that in a capitalist society, invasion and class struggle are not separate events. Rather, invasion is a way for the powerful to maintain their control and class differences. The powerful use invasion as a means to keep the lower classes from gaining more power and rights. This quote challenges the common belief that these two events are unrelated, and instead argues that they are connected as part of the same capitalist system.

About Karl Liebknecht

Karl Liebknecht was a German revolutionary socialist and anti-militarist who played a leading role in the Spartacist Uprising at the end of World War I. He co-founded the Communist Party of Germany and was killed along with Rosa Luxemburg after the uprising was suppressed.

More about the author

More quotes from Karl Liebknecht

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

The aim of my life is the overthrow of monarchy.

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

Through this experience we have been warned – learn everything, don’t forget anything!

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

To the socialist no nation is free whose national existence is based upon the enslavement of another people, for to him colonial peoples, too, are peoples, and, as such, parts of the national state.

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

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

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)

Capitalism is war; socialism is peace.

Karl Liebknecht

German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)