When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward - or go back. He who now talks about the 'freedom of the press' goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism.

Vladimir Lenin’s quote, "When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward—or go back," reflects his belief in the urgency and momentum required in revolutionary movements. For Lenin, a revolution was not just a moment of political change; it was a dynamic process that required continuous action. To stop or hesitate was to regress, and for Lenin, any sign of slowing down or failure to progress meant heading back to the old, oppressive order. In this context, he views the Revolution as a force that must push forward relentlessly to establish a new, socialist society.

The second part of the quote, "He who now talks about the 'freedom of the press' goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism," reflects Lenin's authoritarian stance on how to manage revolutionary society. He critiques those who continue to uphold the ideal of press freedom in the face of a revolution. Lenin believed that control over the media was necessary to maintain the direction of the revolution and prevent counter-revolutionary forces from undermining the progress toward socialism. In his view, maintaining freedom of the press could lead to a regression, halting the swift progress needed to establish a socialist state.

This quote stems from Lenin’s leadership during the Russian Revolution and his eventual consolidation of power as the head of the Soviet Union. During this time, Lenin and his government implemented strict controls on the press, viewing any form of free expression that could challenge the new socialist order as a threat to the revolution's goals. For Lenin, revolutionary progress required discipline and unity, with no room for competing voices or opposition.

Ultimately, Lenin’s quote highlights his belief in the necessity of forward motion during a revolutionary period. He saw freedom of the press as an obstacle to the quick establishment of a socialist society, where he believed strong, centralized control was essential for maintaining order and pushing the revolution toward its goals. The quote reflects Lenin's commitment to totalitarian control in the name of socialist transformation.