Every revolution by force only puts more violent means of enslavement into the hands of the persons in power.
—Leo Tolstoy, 1893
Archive
Quotes
An oppressed people are authorized, whenever they can, to rise and break their fetters.
—Henry Clay, 1842All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the state.
—Albert Camus, 1951Rebellion is no less a sin than divination.
—Book of Samuel, c. 550 BCRevolutions are celebrated when they are no longer dangerous.
—Pierre Boulez, 1989And 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, 1791I have been ever of the opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1844Revolutions are not about trifles, but they are produced by trifles.
—Aristotle, c. 350 BCAll successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door. The violence of revolutions is the violence of men who charge into a vacuum.
—John Kenneth Galbraith, 1977