The spirit of revolution, the spirit of insurrection, is a spirit radically opposed to liberty.

All men recognize the right of revolution, that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

All revolutions devour their own children.

Revolutions have never lightened the burden of tyranny, they have only shifted it to another shoulder.

Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made—through disobedience and through rebellion.

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

Revolution can never be forecast; it cannot be foretold; it comes of itself. Revolution is brewing and is bound to flare up.