In revolutions the occasions may be trifling but great interests are at stake.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
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
Although a system may cease to exist in the legal sense or as a structure of power, its values (or anti-values), its philosophy, its teachings remain in us. They rule our thinking, our conduct, our attitude to others. The situation is a demonic paradox: we have toppled the system but we still carry its genes.
—Ryszard Kapuscinski (1932–2007) Polish Journalist
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) 2nd US President, Founding Father, Statesman
One revolution is just like one cocktail, it just gets you organized for the next.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
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
Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
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
We have wasted our spirit in the regions of the abstract and general just as the monks let it wither in the world of prayer and contemplation.
—Alexander Herzen (1812–70) Russian Revolutionary, Writer
Inferiors revolt in order that they may be equal, and equals that they may be superior. Such is the state of mind which creates revolutions.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
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
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
No one makes a revolution by himself; and there are some revolutions which humanity accomplishes without quite knowing how, because it is everybody who takes them in hand.
—George Sand (1804–76) French Novelist, Dramatist
A great revolution is never the fault of the people, but of the government.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
A revolution does not last more than fifteen years, the period which coincides with the flourishing of a generation.
—Jose Ortega y. Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish Critic, Journalist, Philosopher
I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with Blood.
—John Mason Brown (1900–69) American Author, Drama Critic
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
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
The spirit of revolution, the spirit of insurrection, is a spirit radically opposed to liberty.
—Francois Guizot (1787–1874) French Statesman, Historian, Orator
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
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
All revolutions devour their own children.
—Ernst Rohm (1887–1934) German Military Officer
The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Plots, true or false, are necessary things, to raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
At the crash of economic collapse of which the rumblings can already be heard, the sleeping soldiers of the proletariat will awake as at the fanfare of the Last Judgment and the corpses of the victims of the struggle will arise and demand an accounting from those who are loaded down with curses.
—Karl Liebknecht (1871–1919) German Barrister, Politician, Revolutionary
Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed.
—Barbara W. Tuchman (1912–89) American Historian, Journalist
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
Independence in the end is the fruit of injustice.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
In every revolution there intrude, at the side of its true agents, men of a different stamp; some of them survivors of and devotees to past revolutions, without insight into the present movement, but preserving popular influence by their known honesty and courage, or by the sheer force of tradition; others mere brawlers, who, by dint of repeating year after year the same set of stereotyped declamations against the government of the day, have sneaked into the reputation of revolutionists of the first water They are an unavoidable evil: with time they are shaken off.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
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
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