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Quotes

The only justification of rebellion is success.

—Thomas B. Reed, 1878

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, 1864

Revolutions are celebrated when they are no longer dangerous. 

—Pierre Boulez, 1989

Revolutions are not about trifles, but they are produced by trifles. 

—Aristotle, c. 350 BC

All civilization has from time to time become a thin crust over a volcano of revolution.

—Havelock Ellis, 1921

Every revolution by force only puts more violent means of enslavement into the hands of the persons in power.

—Leo Tolstoy, 1893

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

—George Bernard Shaw, 1903

I have been ever of the opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.

—Benjamin Disraeli, 1844

If there was ever a just war since the world began, it is this in which America is now engaged.

—Thomas Paine, 1778

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

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

—Benjamin Franklin, 1776

Revolutionaries are greater sticklers for formality than conservatives.

—Italo Calvino, 1957

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