Joseph Stalin Part 2: The Secretary Becomes Dictator
Real Dictators
Stalin's Perception of Power and Sentimentality
Stalin believed that the death of an individual was a tragedy, while the death of millions was merely a statistic, viewing history through a Marxist lens that necessitated the deaths of enormous amounts of people. This perspective detached him from personal emotions, dismissing sentimentality as bourgeois. Stalin prided himself on his tough and unwavering approach, emphasizing to Lenin that his hand would not tremble, indicating his belief that his power stemmed from being perceived as an unyielding and formidable leader rather than from the support of the people.
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