"I am not a Marxist"

[Hegemonicretribution]

Anyone know what was meant by Marx's famous quote? I have speculated but never been sure, it came up in philosophy and annoyed me I didn't know beyond doubt. Any clarity would be appreciated cheers :)

[Roses in the Hospital]

If I rember rightly, in Francis Wheen's biography of Marx, he calims that Marx was trying to discredit a supposedly Marxist socialist group and said something like, 'All I know is if they represent what Marxism is, then I am not a Marxist.'

[Martin Blank]

Originally posted by Roses in the [email protected] 28 2005, 05:03 AM
If I rember rightly, in Francis Wheen's biography of Marx, he calims that Marx was trying to discredit a supposedly Marxist socialist group and said something like, 'All I know is if they represent what Marxism is, then I am not a Marxist.'
It was in reference to the French Workers' Party, which called itself "Marxist", but followed a political line contrary to Marx's views. His response to their program was, "All I know is that if this is Marxism, then I am not a Marxist".

Miles

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by Roses in the [email protected] 28 2005, 10:03 AM
Francis Wheen's biography of Marx
Good book. Except for the some what haphazard attacks on Bakunin.

[Hegemonicretribution]

Thanks, I was 99% certain that is what it meant but I didn't know what he said it in reference to.

[Organic Revolution]

i think he was attacking personality cults.

[novemba]

or maybe he saw the danger of labels which inevitably lead to the division of leftist revolutionaries

i know how we porbably all feel about him, but old Georgey(Washington) warned against partisan political groups and thats a reason why he didn't hold more terms in office

[Led Zeppelin]

or maybe he saw the danger of labels which inevitably lead to the division of leftist revolutionaries

Wrong.


i think he was attacking personality cults.

Wrong.


It was in reference to the French Workers' Party, which called itself "Marxist", but followed a political line contrary to Marx's views. His response to their program was, "All I know is that if this is Marxism, then I am not a Marxist".

Correct, I read this on MIA.

[Lamanov]

Maybe he had forseen some of us calling ourselves "marxist-". ;)

:lol:

[drain.you]

Wasn't it that there was a group claiming to be Marxists but not believing in the proletarian revolution and since Marx believed in the epochs of society always ending in revolution claimed that he is not a Marxist if that groups beliefs were what Marxism is. Its ironic that he should claim not to be a marxist himself which is probably why it went down as such a memoral quote. Also cool that he didnt outright say that they were not marxists.
At least that is what I have read. Correct me if I'm wrong :)