"Despair is typical of those who do not understand the causes of evil, see no way out, and are incapable of struggle. The modern industrial proletariat does not belong to the category of such classes"

Despair arises when individuals face suffering or oppression without comprehending its origins or envisioning solutions. Those who cannot trace the roots of evil to social, economic, or political causes are often left feeling powerless; to them, injustice seems immutable, an unavoidable condition rather than the outcome of changeable circumstances. Lenin highlights that such a mindset, marked by resignation and the absence of hope, belongs to those who lack understanding, the vision to imagine alternatives, or the resolve to act.

Contrast this with the modern industrial proletariat, the working class emerging in industrialized societies. Lenin argues that they do not succumb to this kind of despair. The proletariat, by virtue of their position in the productive machinery of capitalism, are forced to confront the mechanics of exploitation daily. Their shared experiences sow the seeds of solidarity and collective awareness. They come to recognize that their hardship is not the result of fate or personal failure but a consequence of economic structures designed for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many.

With this knowledge, the working class moves from bewilderment to understanding, and from passive suffering to active struggle. Rather than viewing their lot as unchangeable, they identify routes to emancipation, primarily through unity and organized struggle. The potential for collective resistance, whether manifested in strikes, labor unions, or political movements, offers a tangible way out. This awareness fosters not despair, but hope, hope rooted in the capacity for self-organization and in historical precedents of successful uprisings.

Lenin’s observation challenges those who feel defeated to reconsider the sources of their suffering and recognize the power that understanding and unity can bring. The proletariat’s refusal to despair becomes emblematic of the broader possibility for revolutionary change whenever a class or group chooses to confront the causes of its oppression head-on and fights for its own liberation.