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.
—Dionysius of Halicarnassus, c. 20 BC
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Quotes
Revolutions are not made by men in spectacles.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1871Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
—Benjamin Franklin, 1776Every revolution by force only puts more violent means of enslavement into the hands of the persons in power.
—Leo Tolstoy, 1893The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative on the day after the revolution.
—Hannah Arendt, 1970And 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 never go backward.
—Thomas Skidmore, 1829I have been ever of the opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1844Revolution can never be forecast; it cannot be foretold; it comes of itself. Revolution is brewing and is bound to flare up.
—Vladimir Lenin, 1918