Insurrection. An unsuccessful revolution; disaffection’s failure to substitute misrule for bad government.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Revolution, in order to be creative, cannot do without either a moral or metaphysical rule to balance the insanity of history.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
The working of revolutions misleads me no more; it is as necessary to our race as its waves to the stream, that it may not be a stagnant marsh. Ever renewed in its forms, the genius of humanity blossoms.
—Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803) German Lutheran Philosopher, Theologian, Poet, Literary Critic
You can jail a Revolutionary, but you can’t jail the Revolution.
—Huey P. Newton (1942–89) American Political Activist
No one can go on being a rebel too long without turning into an autocrat.
—Lawrence Durrell (1912–90) British Biographer, Poet, Playwright, Novelist
I have been ever of opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.
—Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chinese Statesman
Anyone who can be proved to be a seditious person is an outlaw before God and the emperor; and whoever is the first to put him to death does right and well. Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful, or devilish than a rebel.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
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
A populace never rebels from passion for attack, but from impatience of suffering.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Revolutions are always verbose.
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary
Revolution today is taken for granted, and in consequence becomes rather dull.
—Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) English Novelist, Painter, Critic
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
A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Revolutions are not made for export.
—Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) Russian Head of State, Political leader
The first lesson a revolutionary must learn is that he is a doomed man. Unless he understands this, he does not grasp the essential meaning of his life.
—Huey P. Newton (1942–89) American Political Activist
On the first day of a revolution he is a treasure; on the second he ought to be shot.
—Unknown
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
I hold it that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
A reform is a correction of abuses; a revolution is a transfer of power.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
The seed of revolution is repression.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Too many so-called leaders of the movement have been made into celebrities and their revolutionary fervor destroyed by mass media. They become Hollywood objects and lose identification with the real issues. The task is to transform society; only the people can do that
—Huey P. Newton (1942–89) American Political Activist
All men should have a drop of treason in their veins, if nations are not to go soft like so many sleepy pears.
—Rebecca West (1892–1983) English Author, Journalist, Literary Critic
Too long denial of guaranteed right is sure to lead to revolution—bloody revolution, where suffering must fall upon the innocent as well as the guilty.
—Ulysses S. Grant (1822–85) American Civil War General, Head of State
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
The most heroic word in all languages is revolution.
—Eugene V. Debs (1855–1926) American Socialist, Union Leader
The first duty of society is to give each of its members the possibility of fulfilling his destiny. When it becomes incapable of performing this duty it must be transformed.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
Revolutions are not made, they come. A revolution is as natural a growth as an oak. It comes out of the past. Its foundations are laid far back.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
Revolution is not a onetime event.
—Audre Lorde (1934–92) American Poet, Activist
Most revolutionaries are potential Tories, because they imagine that everything can be put right by altering the shape of society; once that change is effected, as it sometimes is, they see no need for any other.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
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
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
In this Revolution no plans have been written for retreat.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
A riot is the language of the unheard.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Every generation needs a new revolution.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
The time to stop a revolution is at the beginning, not the end.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
The best security against revolution is in constant correction of abuses and the introduction of needed improvements. It is the neglect of timely repair that makes rebuilding necessary.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
It’s not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
Let them call it mischief; when it’s past and prospered, it will be virtue.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Political convulsions, like geological upheavings, usher in new epochs of the world’s progress.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
A revolution is impossible without a revolutionary situation; furthermore, not every revolutionary situation leads to revolution.
—Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924) Russian Revolutionary Leader
Insurrection: Insurrection as soon as circumstances allow: insurrection, strenuous, ubiquitous: the insurrection of the masses: the holy war of the oppressed: the republic to make republicans: the people in action to initiate progress. Let the insurrection announce with its awful voice the decrees of God: let it clear and level the ground on which its own immortal structure shall be raised. Let it, like the Nile, flood all the country that it is destined to make fertile.
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–72) Italian Patriot, Political Leader
Revolutionary politics, revolutionary art, and oh, the revolutionary mind, is the dullest thing on earth. When we open a “revolutionary” review, or read a “revolutionary” speech, we yawn our heads off. It is true, there is nothing else. Everything is correctly, monotonously, dishearteningly “revolutionary.” What a stupid word! What a stale fuss!
—Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) English Novelist, Painter, Critic
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
Write on my gravestone: “Infidel, Traitor.”—infidel to every church that compromises with wrong; traitor to every government that oppresses the people.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
The rebel can never find peace. He knows what is good and, despite himself, does evil. The value which supports him is never given to him once and for all—he must fight to uphold it, unceasingly.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
The children of the revolution are always ungrateful, and the revolution must be grateful that it is so.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
When the sword of rebellion is drawn, the sheath should be thrown away.
—English Proverb