Those who give the first shock to a state are the first overwhelmed in its ruin; the fruits of public commotion are seldom enjoyed by him who was the first mover; he only beats the water for another’s net.

Revolution begins in putting on bright colors.

Governments are not overthrown by the poor, who have no power, but by the rich—when they are insulted by their inferiors and cannot obtain justice.

Who draws his sword against his prince must throw away the scabbard.

The brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over we realize this: that the human has been roughly handled, but that it has advanced.

Revolutions are always verbose.

Every revolution by force only puts more violent means of enslavement into the hands of the persons in power.

All revolutions devour their own children.

If there was ever a just war since the world began, it is this in which America is now engaged.

An oppressed people are authorized, whenever they can, to rise and break their fetters.

There is a kind of revolution of so general a character that it changes the mental tastes as well as the fortunes of the world.

All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the state.

If not us, who? If not now, when?