Adam Michnik Quotes

Revolution against imperialism is not an action of inviting guests to have meal, writing articles, braiding, education, softness or fear of enemy. But it is a class wrath seized to topple another class

Revolutions have never lightened the burden of tyranny; they have only shifted it to another shoulder.

Power is never so overwhelming that there's no room for resistance.

All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door.

A revolution is an act of violence whereby one class shatters the authority of another.

Who Rebels? Who rises in arms? Rarely the slave, but almost always the oppressor turned slave.

I think there is an instinct out there to rid us of our masters.

Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed.

Fight the power that be. Fight the power.

An oppressed people will always rise.

I was sympathetic to virtually all groups that wanted to get away from the old system.

Do you trust the government? No? In that case, let’s overthrow it tomorrow.

What has commonly been called rebellion has more often been nothing but a glorious struggle in opposition to the lawless power of rebellious kings and princes

We must begin the preparations necessary to retrieve our country from the hands of the enemy which now controls it.

It is authority that provokes revolution....

The tyrant dies and his rule is over; the martyr dies and his rule begins.

When people rise, they must have a goal worthy of them. Must paltry goods be of concern to them?... The people must rise up not to collect sugar, but to bring down the tyrants.

It is doubtful if the oppressed ever fight for freedom. They fight for pride and power — power to oppress others. The oppressed want above all to imitate their oppressors; they want to retaliate.

The reign of the tyrant ends with his death, and the reign of the martyr starts with it.

When we have but the will to do it, that very moment will Justice be done: that very instant the tyrants of the Earth shall bite the dust.

A government creates its own revolution. There can be no revolt without it.

And revolutions always mean the breakdown of old authority.

An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters.

What was taken by force, can only be restored by force.

Revolution is the festival of the oppressed.