LENIN ON ORGANIZATION 
still left on this earth; and petty industry daily, 
hourly, spontaneously and in mass proportion gives 
birth to capitalism and creates bourgeois stability. 
That is why the dictatorship of the proletariat is 
essential; that is why victory over the bourgeoisie 
is impossible without a long obstinate and desparate 
war for life or death—a war demanding steadfast- 
ness, discipline, firmness and singleness of will. 
I repeat that the experience of the triumphant 
dictatorship of the proletariat in Russia has clearly 
demonstrated to all who are unable to think, or to 
whom it has not occurred to think, on this subject 
that unconditional centralization and strict disci- 
pline on the part of the proletariat compromise one 
of the fundamental conditions of victory over the 
bourgeoisie. 
This fact is often spoken about, but far too little 
consideration is given to what its implications are 
and under what conditions it becomes possible. 
Would it not be a good thing if the greetings which 
are addressed to the Soviet Government and to the 
Bolsheviks were a little more frequently accompa- 
nied by a serious analysis of the causes why the 
Bolsheviks were able to create the discipline which 
is so necessary to the revolutionary proletariat? 
As a tendency in political thought and as the 
policy of a political Party, Bolshevism has existed 
since 1903. Only the history of Bolshevism during 
the whole period of its existence can satisfactorily 
explain why it was able under the most difficult 
210)