The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.
—Erich Fromm, 1941Quotes
Who draws his sword against his prince must throw away the scabbard.
—James Howell, 1659Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
—Benjamin Franklin, 1776The 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, 1970The only justification of rebellion is success.
—Thomas B. Reed, 1878And then, sir, there is this consideration: that if the abuse be enormous, nature will rise up and, claiming her original rights, overturn a corrupt political system.
—Samuel Johnson, 1791To cast aside obedience, and by popular violence to incite revolt, is treason, not against man only, but against God.
—Pope Leo XIII, 1885The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative on the day after the revolution.
—Hannah Arendt, 1970Those 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.
—Michel de Montaigne, 1580The children of the revolution are always ungrateful, and the revolution must be grateful that it is so.
—Ursula K. Le Guin, 1983I have been ever of the opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1844Insurgents are like conquerors: they must go forward; the moment they are stopped, they are lost.
—Duke of Wellington, c. 1819Revolutions are not about trifles, but they are produced by trifles.
—Aristotle, c. 350 BC