You said, “They’re harmless dreamers and they’re loved by the people.”—“What,” I asked you, “is harmless about a dreamer, and what,” I asked you, “is harmless about the love of the people? Revolution only needs good dreamers who remember their dreams.”
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
Plots, true or false, are necessary things, to raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
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
All revolutions devour their own children.
—Ernst Rohm (1887–1934) German Military Officer
It is almost never when a state of things is the most detestable that it is smashed, but when, beginning to improve, it permits men to breathe, to reflect, to communicate their thoughts with each other, and to gauge by what they already have the extent of their rights and their grievances. The weight, although less heavy, seems then all the more unbearable.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
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
In a revolution, as in a novel, the most difficult part to invent is the end.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the trouble can use the pretext of religion to mask their true designs.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
A great revolution is never the fault of the people, but of the government.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Revolutions are not made for export.
—Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) Russian Head of State, Political leader
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
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
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
The more there are riots, the more repressive action will take place, and the more we face the danger of a right-wing takeover and eventually a fascist society.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
The revolutionary spirit is mighty convenient in this, that it frees one from all scruples as regards ideas. Its hard absolute optimism is repulsive to my mind by the menace of fanaticism and intolerance it contains. No doubt one should smile at these things; but, imperfect Esthete, I am no better Philosopher. All claim to special righteousness awakens in me that scorn and anger from which a philosophical mind should be free.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
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
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
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
A nation grown free in a single day is a child born with the limbs and the vigor of a man, who would take a drawn sword for his rattle, and set the house in a blaze that he might chuckle over the splendor.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
In this Revolution no plans have been written for retreat.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Riots are the voices of the unheard.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
The excessive increase of anything causes a reaction in the opposite direction.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
True revolutionaries are like God—they create the world in their own image. Our awesome responsibility to ourselves, to our children, and to the future is to create ourselves in the image of goodness, because the future depends on the nobility of our imaginings.
—Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (1934–2002) American Writer, Essayist, Critic
Oh, my friend, it’s not what they take away from you that counts—it’s what you do with what you have left.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
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, Novelist
Revolution: in politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
History teaches us that the great revolutions aren’t started by people who are utterly down and out, without hope and vision. They take place when people begin to live a little better—and when they see how much yet remains to be achieved.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
One revolution is just like one cocktail, it just gets you organized for the next.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Revolutions are always verbose.
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary
Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose, but their chains. .Workers of the world unite!
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
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