LENIN ON ORGANIZATION
A FUNDAMENTAL REASON FOR THE SUCCESS
OF THE BOLSHEVIKS.
(From ‘the “Infantile Sickness of Leftism,”
written 1920).
Nearly everybody perhaps now realizes that the
Bolsheviks could not have remained in power for
two-and-a-half months, let alone two-and-a-half
years, were it not for the strict, in fact, the iron
discipline which prevails in our Party, and the full
and unquestioning support given it by the whole
mass of the working class, that is, by all in it who
think, are honest, self-sacrificing, enjoy influence
and are able to lead or drag the other sections
with them.
The dictatorship of the proletariat is a merciless
and decisive war waged by the new class against
its more powerful enemy, the bourgeoisie, the resistance
 of which increases tenfold after its overthrow
 (even though the overthrow takes place in
one country only), and the power of which consists
not only in the strength of international capitalism
and the efficiency of the international communications
 of the bourgeoisie, but also in force of habit
and the strength of petty industry. For, unfortunately,
 there are very, very many petty industries

Xx
209