depression is an understandable reaction to living under capitalism, but it doesn’t have to be inherent to being communist or understanding the structures of exploitation around us

in fact i find the more theory i read, and the more i agitate among coworkers, the less depressed i am

like instead of everything being a hopeless problem that’s just a personal issue or “just the way it is” i can start to see the mechanisms at play and envision ways to interact with them to build a better future

You must realize that I am far from feeling beaten…it seems to me that… a man out to be deeply convinced that the source of his own moral force is in himself — his very energy and will, the iron coherence of ends and means — that he never falls into those vulgar, banal moods, pessimism and optimism. My own state of mind synthesises these two feelings and transcends them: my mind is pessimistic, but my will is optimistic. Whatever the situation, I imagine the worst that could happen in order to summon up all my reserves and will power to overcome every obstacle.