Horkheimer saw isolated individuals’ words as a real political power against totalitarian states.

Evidence

Words were the only weapons of isolated individuals, but a powerless statement in a totalitarian state' was more threatening than the most awe-inspiring party rally under Wilhelm II’. … Horkheimer’s view that state capitalism sometimes seemed to be a parody of classless society corresponded to the philosophical motif of approaching the truth through its negation. … Further, agreeing with Benjamin’s Theses on the Philosophy of History', which were partly anticipated by the essay on Eduard Fuchs, Horkheimer wrote: the end of exploitation … is not a further acceleration of progress, but a qualitative leap out of the dimension of progress.’ — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1159

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Benjamin’s ‘Theses on the Philosophy of History’ and Horkheimer’s essay on Eduard Fuchs — both milestones in Frankfurt School intellectual history. — connects to: Isolated individuals still wield power through words under totalitarian states — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1159; In totalitarian states, real power correlates inversely with institutional visibility; Totalitarian government is a powerless façade over real party power (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• In totalitarian states, real power correlates inversely with institutional visibility #expands (0.75)
• Totalitarian government is a powerless façade over real party power #contradicts (0.75)
• Horkheimer simultaneously pursued disengaged isolation and maximum institutional establishment status #complicates (0.72) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1706