In revolutions men fall and rise. Long before this war is over, much as you hear me praised now, you may hear me cursed and insulted.
—William Tecumseh Sherman, 1864Quotes
All civilization has from time to time become a thin crust over a volcano of revolution.
—Havelock Ellis, 1921The main object of a revolution is the liberation of man, not the interpretation and application of some transcendental ideology.
—Jean Genet, 1983An oppressed people are authorized, whenever they can, to rise and break their fetters.
—Henry Clay, 1842Governments 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.
—Dionysius of Halicarnassus, c. 20 BCEvery revolution by force only puts more violent means of enslavement into the hands of the persons in power.
—Leo Tolstoy, 1893Revolution begins in putting on bright colors.
—Tennessee Williams, 1944Those 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, 1580Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
—John F. Kennedy, 1962To 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, 1871It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
—Dolores Ibárruri, 1936The children of the revolution are always ungrateful, and the revolution must be grateful that it is so.
—Ursula K. Le Guin, 1983Insurrection of thought always precedes insurrection of arms.
—Wendell Phillips, 1859