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

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

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.

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.

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.

Revolutions are celebrated when they are no longer dangerous. 

Rebellion is no less a sin than divination.

All revolutions devour their own children.

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

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

The surest guide to the correctness of the path that women take is joy in the struggle. Revolution is the festival of the oppressed.

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

The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative on the day after the revolution.