p Large-scale machine industry-which is precisely the material source, the productive source, the foundation of socialism-calls for absolute and strict unity of will, which directs the joint labours of hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands of people. The technical, economic and historical necessity of this is obvious, and all those who have thought about socialism have always regarded it as one of the conditions of socialism. But how can strict unity of will be ensured?-By thousands subordinating their will to the will of one.

p Given ideal class consciousness and discipline on the part of those taking part in the common work, this subordination would rather remind one of the mild leadership of a conductor of an orchestra. It may assume the sharp forms of a dictatorship if ideal discipline and class consciousness are lacking. But be that as it may, unquestioning subordination to a single will is absolutely necessary for the success of processes organised on the pattern of large-scale machine industry....

. . . We must consolidate what we ourselves have won, what we ourselves have decreed, made law, discussed, planned-consolidate all this in stable forms of everyday labour discipline. This is the most difficult, but the most grateful task, because only its fulfilment will give us socialist conditions. We must learn to combine the "public meeting" democracy of the toiling masses-turbulent, surging, overflowing its banks like a spring flood-with iron discipline while at work, with unquestioning obedience to the will of a single person, the Soviet leader, while at work....