All movements go too far.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The most important political office is that of the private citizen.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
Patriotism … is a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins—not through strength but by perseverance.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (1940–2021) American Author of “Life’s Little Instruction Book”
Agitators are a set of interfering, meddling people, who come down to some perfectly contented class of the community and sow the seeds of discontent amongst them. That is the reason why agitators are so absolutely necessary. Without them, in our incomplete state, there would be no advance towards civilization.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
If I seem to take part in politics, it is only because politics encircles us today like the coil of a snake from which one cannot get out, no matter how much one tries. I wish therefore to wrestle with the snake.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
If you’re not giving the world the best you have, what world are you saving it for?
—Unknown
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
I am leaving this legacy to all of you … to bring peace, justice, equality, love and a fulfillment of what our lives should be. Without vision, the people will perish, and without courage and inspiration, dreams will die—the dream of freedom and peace.
—Rosa Parks (1913–2005) American Civil Rights Leader
No great movement designed to change the world can bear to be laughed at or belittled. Mockery is a rust that corrodes all it touches.
—Milan Kundera (1929–2023) Czech-French Writer, Literary Philosopher
Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism, falsehoods. The liturgical movement must become a revolutionary movement, seeking to overthrow the forces that continue to destroy the promise, the hope, the vision.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) American Jewish Rabbi
The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it.
—Abbie Hoffman (1936–89) American Political Activist, Anarchist
In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
A person who is worried about the outcome of his work does not see his goal; he sees only his opposition and the obstacles before him.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
My activism really is for myself, because I see places in the world where I feel I should be. If there is something really bad, really evil, happening somewhere, then that is where I should be. I need, for myself, to feel that I have stood there. It feels a lot better than just watching it on television.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Non-cooperation with evil is a sacred duty.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
To work in the world lovingly means that we are defining what we will be for, rather than reacting to what we are against.
—Unknown
We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
Before preparing to improve the world, first look around your own home three times.
—Chinese Proverb
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Never has man reached his destination by persistence in deviation from the straight path.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Think globally; act locally.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The short lesson that comes out of long experience in political agitation is something like this: all the motive power in all of these movements is the instinct of religious feeling. All the obstruction comes from attempting to rely on anything else. Conciliation is the enemy.
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933) American Literary Critic, Essayist
I am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample under foot.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
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