1001Philosophers

Leszek Kolakowski Quotes

Leszek Kolakowski was a Polish philosopher and the most influential critic of Marxism from within the Marxist tradition. After early Marxist work that had brought him to a chair at Warsaw, he was expelled from the Polish United Workers' Party in 1966 and from the country in 1968 for his role in the post-Stalinist liberalization. The quotes below are attributed to Leszek Kolakowski, organized by topic.

Leszek Kolakowski on Freedom

  • Attributed to Leszek Kolakowski:

    “The freedom we lose is rarely the freedom we use.”

Leszek Kolakowski on God

  • Attributed to Leszek Kolakowski:

    “Religion remains one of the most fundamental of human cultures.”

Leszek Kolakowski on Justice

  • Attributed to Leszek Kolakowski:

    “Total justice is total tyranny.”

Leszek Kolakowski on Politics

  • Attributed to Leszek Kolakowski:

    “Marxism is the greatest fantasy of the twentieth century.”

Read all Leszek Kolakowski quotes on Politics

Leszek Kolakowski on Time

  • Attributed to Leszek Kolakowski:

    “Modernity is the culture of permanent self-criticism.”