Letter to Inessa Armand, First half of May, 1914

Add a subpage to this text

Read the help page for usage.

 

... and not in 1912, but in 1911) we in the editorial office of Sotsial-Demokrat received Vinnichenko’s pamphlet in Russian devoted to a defence against the accusations levelled at him by the Social-Democrats for “Honesty to Oneself”. Vinnichenko asked for an answer in writing and in print. I remember being impressed by the pamphlet, and I wanted to write about it, but was prevented by all kinds of petty affairs (oh, those “petty affairs”, those apologies for business, imitation products of business, a hindrance to business, how I hate fuss and bustle and petty affairs, and how tied I am to them inseparably and for all time!! That’s a sign more that I am lazy and tired and badly humoured. Generally I like my profession and now I often almost hate it ). By the way, I mislaid that pamphlet (published in Lvov) and have forgotten its title. Find it if you can, read it and send it to me.

I thought Vinnichenko sincere and naive when he puts the question: “Does a Social-Democrat have the right (!! sic!!) to visit a brothel?” and keeps harping on this question, but all the time individually. He is sort of half-anarchist or total anarchist, and the Vperyodists must bamboozle him. He once read a lecture in Paris on “Honesty to Oneself” with Lunacharsky in the chair, did he not? Or are things in such a way that Lunacharsky is for Vinnichenko, while Alexinsky is against? I would like to know some more details about it.

Before leaving Paris you must discuss with Nik. Vas., Kamsky and Ludmila the question of the delegation to the Vienna congress. It is most desirable to have as many delegates as possible. The difficulty is money (expenses for the trip+15 frs. for a ticket to the congress). The task is: 1) to search in advance for people fit to be delegates and able to travel at their own expense; 2) to raise more money; 3) to find out how much NN, MM, etc., are short of.

All the very best,

Yours, Lenin