Tariq Ali Quotes

Capitalism inevitably and by virtue of the very logic of its civilization creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.

People of my generation in Portugal fell into the magic potion of political ideas. What was very funny about this revolution was that it did not bring wealth to the Portuguese. But it brought language, ideas. You'd go to the fish market, and all the women who were selling fish would call each other fascist, communist.

Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.

I think the first decade of this century is going to be remembered as a time of extremism.

Nationalism of the Irish type is often regarded as reactionary. With the World Revolution and the Classless Society waiting for the midwife, why take a torch to the stable to assist at the birth of a puppy? Even if the puppy is pedigree. On this question I am unable to make up my mind.

I've got personal views on the '60s. You can't have freedom without paying the price for it.

This old Germany was partly defeated in its conflict with the progressive ideas of socialism, for it had given the people nothing that could serve as a successful alternative to socialism.

The defiance of established authority, religious and secular, social and political, as a world-wide phenomenon may well one day be accounted the outstanding event of the last decade.

Above all, what socialist, without flushing with shame, maintains he is not a revolutionary? We say: none!.

On one level the sixties revolt was an impressive illustration of Lenin's remark that the capitalist will sell you the rope to hang him with.

America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

Capitalism is so successful economically that it creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.

Revolutions break out when opposite parties, the rich and the poor, are equally balanced, and there is little or nothing between them.

I fear that some day or another we shall have in Europe a total upsetting of social order, which will drive all wise and experienced men to America.

A young man under twenty-five who is not a Socialist has no heart, one above twenty-five who remains a Socialist has no head.

Don’t you realize there’s an election this year. This is a social revolution that we’re considering here. And if we decide it in an election year, the two candidates will chose up sides on it, neither one will read the decision of course, and it will be thrown into the political scramble. Is this the way you want this important question to be decided?

Conservatism, by all means, if there is anything worth conserving, and everything not worth losing. Revolution, if there is nothing worth conserving, and everything worth gaining. These are the class lines upon which the political battle is being fought, and is bound to be fought

History shows that when you have continuing income inequality it is an invitation to class conflict.

The capitalist process shapes things and souls for socialism.

The people weren't quite ready for a socialist production system.

There were times at Harvard when I actually longed to hang out with a few more Trotskyists, rather than yet another set of future consultants and investment bankers. At least the Trotskyists cared about the important stuff.

I think the Brexit vote in Great Britain informing this populist movement of nationalism is kind of a global thing, and I think it's no particular political party's fault. People have been left behind, and in America, we're used to going forward. It's always like we're going to be better; the next generation's going to be better.

Let us not be so naive as to think that revolution is just a matter of social or economic discontent.

The mess in the world is a strong driver because, at the end of the day, it's the increasing unacceptability of the divergences and rifts in the world economically, socially, politically, and culturally which lead everybody to say, 'We have to do something.'

Socialism most always leads to a failure of democracy because the economic system ultimately cannot provide for its people.