In view of all this, would not the activity of Lenin appear to be full of contradictions? Closet philosophers, adherents of the so-called rationalistic and logical formulae, could never adjust themselves to the "illogical" thinking of Lenin. But this proves only that these people have forgotten the whole Hegelian rule that the truth is concrete. Lenin's quick changes of orientation were not caused by abstract reasons, but by changes of realities. He was no conservor of dead formulae and lifeless slogans. Lenin's mobility in politics and tactics was always in accord with the daily changes in the mutual relation of forces between classes.
If we were to collect all that has been written on Lenin by his opponents, we should get one great historical rebus. According to some of his opponents, Lenin was a typical conspirator, a Blanquist, a Jacobin. According to others, Lenin was one of the greatest opportunists, a careerist, one who was determined upon getting into power, irrespective of the price. All these descriptions are meaningless because they are based upon single instances of Lenin's activities, torn out from their connections with the whole, qualified according to the personal sentiments of one or the other of his enemies, and stamped accordingly.
Lenin was a dialectician in politics. That is, he knew how to attack, when necessary to retreat, always according to plan, to change directions, and when the situation became favorable again, to reassume the offensive, never for a second losing sight of his final aims. During the thirty years of his activities Lenin showed how changes of orientation could be effected without the Party or the class whom he represented breaking their necks, but on the contrary strengthening their fighting ability and organization. From this point of view his entire political work has been a classical example of revolutionary class strategy.
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