Skip to content

In Western Europe since Roman times, private property was considered sacrosanct. The principle enunciated by the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca that kings rule by the will of the people became fundamental to Western civilization, together with private property, which was the main source of productive wealth.

— Richard Pipes

Another quote →

More quotes by Richard Pipes

Bolshevism and Fascism were heresies of socialism.

Russia Under The Bolshevik Regime (1994)

Lenin wanted power. This may sound self-evident; after all, every politician is assumed to lust for power. But deep down, Lenin’s rivals did not want it.

Three “Whys” of the Russian Revolution (1995)

Moscow’s insistence that ‘fascism’ was the polar opposite of ‘communism’ found wide acceptance in socialist and liberal circles in the West.

Property and Freedom (1999)

Nothing contributed more to the emergence of private property in the West and the rights associated with ownership than the appearance in the late Middle Ages of urban communities.

Property and Freedom (1999)

Fascism issued from the 'Bolshevik' wing of Italian socialism, not from any conservative ideology or movement.

Russia Under The Bolshevik Regime (1995)

All Richard Pipes quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Richard Pipes (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.