Analysis
In *The State and Revolution* (1917), Lenin argues that socialism, as the first stage of communist society, must evolve into full communism, where class distinctions and the state cease to exist. This aligns with Marxist theory, where socialism is the intermediate phase between capitalism and communism. The statement is a direct reflection of Lenin's interpretation of Marxism.
Background
Lenin wrote *The State and Revolution* to clarify Marxist principles amid political turmoil in Russia, emphasizing the need for a proletarian revolution to establish socialism as a stepping stone to communism. Marx and Engels had previously outlined this progression in works like *The Communist Manifesto* (1848).
Verdict summary
Lenin explicitly stated in *The State and Revolution* that socialism is a transitional phase toward communism.