All civilization has from time to time become a thin crust over a volcano of revolution.
—Havelock Ellis, 1921Quotes
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 BCI 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
Insurgents are like conquerors: they must go forward; the moment they are stopped, they are lost.
—Duke of Wellington, c. 1819The spirit of revolution, the spirit of insurrection, is a spirit radically opposed to liberty.
—François Guizot, 1830There is a kind of revolution of so general a character that it changes the mental tastes as well as the fortunes of the world.
—La Rochefoucauld, 1665Revolution begins in putting on bright colors.
—Tennessee Williams, 1944I have been ever of the opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1844Rebellion is no less a sin than divination.
—Book of Samuel, c. 550 BC