If there was ever a just war since the world began, it is this in which America is now engaged.
—Thomas Paine, 1778Quotes
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, 1791Revolutions are not about trifles, but they are produced by trifles.
—Aristotle, c. 350 BCAn oppressed people are authorized, whenever they can, to rise and break their fetters.
—Henry Clay, 1842Revolutions never go backward.
—Thomas Skidmore, 1829Revolutions are not made by men in spectacles.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1871All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the state.
—Albert Camus, 1951The children of the revolution are always ungrateful, and the revolution must be grateful that it is so.
—Ursula K. Le Guin, 1983To cast aside obedience, and by popular violence to incite revolt, is treason, not against man only, but against God.
—Pope Leo XIII, 1885Who draws his sword against his prince must throw away the scabbard.
—James Howell, 1659Revolutions are always verbose.
—Leon Trotsky, 1933To 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, 1871Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
—Marcus Tullius Cicero, 63 BC