Revolutions are not made by men in spectacles.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
The most heroic word in all languages is revolution.
—Eugene V. Debs (1855–1926) American Socialist, Union Leader
The scrupulous and the just, the noble, humane, and devoted natures; the unselfish and the intelligent may begin a movement—but it passes away from them. They are not the leaders of a revolution. They are its victims.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Revolution today is taken for granted, and in consequence becomes rather dull.
—Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) English Novelist, Painter, Critic
I wouldn’t have turned out the way I was if I didn’t have all those old-fashioned values to rebel against.
—Madonna (b.1958) American Pop Singer, Actress
The main effect of a real revolution is perhaps that it sweeps away those who do not know how to wish, and brings to the front men with insatiable appetites for action, power and all that the world has to offer.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
We used to think that revolutions are the cause of change. Actually it is the other way around: change prepares the ground for revolution.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
More and more, revolution has found itself delivered into the hands of its bureaucrats and doctrinaires on the one hand, and to the enfeebled and bewildered masses on the other.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit.
—Abbie Hoffman (1936–89) American Political Activist, Anarchist
All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door. The violence of revolutions is the violence of men who charge into a vacuum.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
All civilization has from time to time become a thin crust over a volcano of revolution.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary’s life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.
—Angela Davis (b.1944) American Political Activist, Academic
In the relations of a weak Government and a rebellious people there comes a time when every act of the authorities exasperates the masses, and every refusal to act excites their contempt.
—John Reed (1887–1920) American Journalist, Poet
He that goeth about to persuade a multitude that they are not so well governed as they ought to be shall never want attentive and favorable hearers.
—Richard Hooker (1554–1600) English Anglican Theologian, Political Theorist
Revolutions are not made; they come.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
Plots, true or false, are necessary things, to raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
The time to stop a revolution is at the beginning, not the end.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the State.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
A man may build himself a throne of bayonets, but he can’t sit on it.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
The surest guide to the correctness of the path that women take is joy in the struggle. Revolution is the festival of the oppressed.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
Let them call it mischief; when it’s past and prospered, it will be virtue.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
You can jail a Revolutionary, but you can’t jail the Revolution.
—Huey P. Newton (1942–89) American Political Activist
The surest way to prevent seditions is to take away the matter of them; for if there be fuel prepared, it is hard to tell whence the spark shall come that shall set it on fire.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
If we glance at the most important revolutions in history, we see at once that the greatest number of these originated in the periodical revolutions of the human mind.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Linguist, Statesman
The brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over we realize this: that the human race has been roughly handled, but that it has advanced.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Revolutions are like the most noxious dung-heaps, which bring into life the noblest vegetables.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution.
—John Adams (1735–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
There is something that Governments care for far more than human life, and that is the security of property, and so it is through property that we shall strike the enemy. Be militant each in your own way. I incite this meeting to rebellion.
—Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) British Suffragette Leader
Revolutions are not made for export.
—Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) Russian Head of State, Political leader