The main object of a revolution is the liberation of man, not the interpretation and application of some transcendental ideology.
—Jean Genet, 1983Quotes
Revolutions never go backward.
—Thomas Skidmore, 1829To 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, 1871Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
—John F. Kennedy, 1962I have been ever of the opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1844Every revolution by force only puts more violent means of enslavement into the hands of the persons in power.
—Leo Tolstoy, 1893An oppressed people are authorized, whenever they can, to rise and break their fetters.
—Henry Clay, 1842The children of the revolution are always ungrateful, and the revolution must be grateful that it is so.
—Ursula K. Le Guin, 1983And 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, 1791