Gore Vidal Quotes

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

Every revolution, bloody or not, has two phases. The first phase is defined by the struggle for freedom, the second by the struggle for power and revenge on the votaries of the ancien regime.

The great are only great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!

Fight the power that be. Fight the power.

An oppressed people will always rise.

Power abdicates only under stress of counter-power.

The great appear great because we are on our knees: Let us rise.

We have the power to turn against our creators.

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

Unless one is inordinately fond of subordination, one is always at war.

Revolution is the festival of the oppressed.

Human beings want to be free and however long they may agree to stay locked up, to stay oppressed, there will come a time when they say 'That's it.' Suddenly they find themselves doing something that they never would have thought they would be doing, simply because of the human instinct that makes them turn their face towards freedom.

When we read dystopia, we root for these people to break free because we are these people; hoping and fighting against things that are bigger than ourselves.

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

My fellow revolutionaries, liberation is a noble cause. We must fight to obtain it.

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

The revolt against any oppression usually goes to an opposite extreme for a time; and that is right and necessary.

Wild beasts hate nets, and people hate their superiors.

It is no longer possible to satirize this state of affairs. Every satire risks becoming a bible for yet another national liberation front. Every satirist risks becoming the founder of a new religion, a Buddha, Zarathustra, Jesus, Muhammad or Marx. Every exposure of the ravages of the dominant system, every critique of the system's functioning, becomes fodder for the horses of liberators, welding materials for builders of armies

You can't shut me up with your cynicism. I warn you- you must realize in time that you are not a mighty despot before whom everyone trembles. I do not tremble before you, I will fight you if you force me to it.

It is authority that provokes revolution....

Revolution is the right of slaves.

Power Concedes Nothing

He who saith “thou shalt” to me is my mortal foe.

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