Vaclav Havel Quotes

Words are capable of shaking the entire structure of government

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

We did not have a revolution in order to have a democracy.

Dissent is as American as cherry pie.

You can't change the world through the parliamentary system.

The really critical thing isn't who's sitting in he White House, but who is sitting in the streets, in the cafeterias, in the halls of government, in the factories. Who is protesting, who is occupying offices and demonstrating ? - those are the things that determine what happens.

I often traveled to Nicaragua to speak against repressive policies by the Sandinista government.

Thank God for Occupy and thank God for 'The Daily Show,' Colbert and the rising up that's going on around the world.

So now is the time, more than ever, for those who truly value all the principles of democracy, especially including dissent, to be the most forceful in speaking up, standing up and speaking out.

We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.

There is no power above people power.

You know, when we get to a point in this country where dissent is extremism, we've turned, I think, a very dark page in our history. And I don't want us to go there. I encourage Americans and I'm - right now, to go to these town hall meetings, to - to talk to your Congressmen, the people that you elected.

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

I believe that people who do not vote in this country have no right to complain about the government that we are now living under. By the same token, if you don't really vote in television, you're never going to have your way. Write a letter to the president of the network.

Let's say there are 500 sons and daughters like you in each state. Then we could control the government.

Our war cries opened the deaf ears of the almighty government and its accomplices.

In Iran, people are free to express their views. Every day, some people criticize the policies of the government.

The walls, the bars, the guns and the guards can never encircle or hold down the idea of the people.

I don't think the only place to fight for freedom is in the halls of Congress.

Just as the Internet drops transaction and collaboration costs in business and government, it also drops the cost of dissent, of rebellion, and even insurrection.

It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.

I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to lead, and people are really concerned about it, the people will take the lead and make the leaders follow.

Protest actions and propaganda are two slightly different things.

It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.

Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.