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Quotes

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

—John F. Kennedy, 1962

I began revolution with eighty-two men. If I had to do it again, I do it with ten or fifteen and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action.

 

—Fidel Castro, 1959

Insurgents are like conquerors: they must go forward; the moment they are stopped, they are lost.

—Duke of Wellington, c. 1819

Revolutionaries are greater sticklers for formality than conservatives.

—Italo Calvino, 1957

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

—James Howell, 1659

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

—Albert Camus, 1951

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

—Czech slogan, 1989

To escape its wretched lot, the populace has three ways, two imaginary and one real. The first two are the rum shop and the church; the third is the social revolution.

—Mikhail Bakunin, 1871

Revolutions are celebrated when they are no longer dangerous. 

—Pierre Boulez, 1989

Rebellion is no less a sin than divination.

—Book of Samuel, c. 550 BC

And 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, 1791

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.

—Henry David Thoreau, 1849

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

—Henry Clay, 1842