Personal Characteristics
Lunacharsky was known as an art connoisseur and a shrewd critic. He was interested in philosophy (not only Marxist dialectics) since he was a student (for instance, he was fond of the ideas of Fichte, Nietzsche, Avenarius). He could read six modern languages and two dead ones. Lunacharsky corresponded with such significant figures of world culture as H. G. Wells, Bernard Shaw, and Romain Rolland.
Lunacharsky was critical of Christianity, and the following quote has often been attributed to him:
"We hate Christianity and Christians. Even the best of them must be regarded as our worst enemies. They preach love of one's neighbour and mercy which is contrary to our principles. Christian love is an obstacle to the development of the revolution. Down with love of one's neighbour. What we need is hatred; only thus shall we conquer the universe."
It should be noted that no primary source of such a quote has been discovered, and those who attribute the quote to Lunacharsky often cite unreliable sources (such as cold-war era American politicians and anti-Communist individuals and groups). The situation arises, when one tries to track down a primary, or even secondary source, that the quote is a quote of a quote of a quote. Some cite it as being quoted from a Soviet publication entitled "New Anti- Religious Manual" which appears to have never existed except as a cited source in anti-Communist propaganda. The quote exists in several variations as well, with the above version being quoted by conservative writer and National Review constributor Michael Walsh in his book "Witness to History"
Read more about this topic: Anatoly Lunacharsky
Famous quotes containing the word personal:
“If society gives up the right to impose the death penalty, then self help will appear again and personal vendettas will be around the corner.”
—Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749–1832)