The children of the revolution are always ungrateful, and the revolution must be grateful that it is so.

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.

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.

The spirit of revolution, the spirit of insurrection, is a spirit radically opposed to liberty.

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

Revolution begins in putting on bright colors.

Insurrection of thought always precedes insurrection of arms.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

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

Revolutions are not made by men in spectacles.

The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.

To cast aside obedience, and by popular violence to incite revolt, is treason, not against man only, but against God.

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.