Ralph Nader Quotes

So, these political activities will create friction in and of themselves, and in this environment of friction there'll be additional violence.

In the relations of a weak Government and a rebellious people there comes a time when every act of the authorities exasperates the masses, and every refusal to act excites their contempt.

There's a real question at stake now. Is President Obama creating a civil war in our own country?

The later it gets the more disturbed the city becomes. I go with Albert through the streets. Men are standing in groups at every corner. Rumours are flying. It is said that the military have already fired on a procession of demonstrating workers.

I was told there would be riots in the streets, but there were no riots.

Something is wanting, and something must be done, or we shall be involved in all the horror of failure, and civil war without a prospect of its termination.

Panamanians live in a chronic state of insurrection and violence.

When civil fury first grew high And men fell out they knew not why.

This don't go here. [A major riot ensued.]

A riot is a spontaneous outburst. A war is subject to advance planning.

I would certainly say that. I don't want to see riots. I don't want to see problems.

I wish to see, in process of disappearing, that only thing which ever could bring this nation to civil war.

I am exceedingly distressed at the proceedings of the Convention-being ... almost sure, they will ... lay the foundation of a Civil War.

You'd have civil war. You'd have a race war in this country.

I think people would be up in arms. I think we would most likely have a similar situation to what happened in the 60s. I don't know if it would be as violent, I think it would be difficult to say that. But I think that, from what I can understand, our nation as a whole is largely against the war as it stands.

If you are not willing to spill blood between elections, you’ll spill it on Election Day, and it’ll be yours.

Rebellions broke out, from the full-scale political revolution of Dorr’s rebellion in Rhode Island to urban violence and protest, often by out of work whites taking out their anger on African Americans or Irish Americans. In response, leaders had to come to terms with the role of force in a democracy.

I'm not afraid to say I'm at war with the pigs.

The more dubious and uncertain an instrument violence has become in international relations, the more it has gained in reputation and appeal in domestic affairs, specifically in the matter of revolution.

The violent rioting that is sometimes now being called protesting - it makes the emotions so high that you almost cannot see the insults and injuries that are the people are suffering.

In the 1960s, there was a point, 1968, '69, when there was a very strong antiwar movement against the war in Vietnam. But it's worth remembering that the war in Vietnam started - an outright war started in 1962.

Rioting definitely brings attention to the situation at hand.

The pressure in Brazil is a little complicated, a little menacing.

I was 14 when the Democratic convention in my hometown of Chicago erupted into violence. It was a tough year.

The actions I took at a time of national crisis in 2003 were necessary to protect lives and property and restore law and order. Regrettably, lives were lost among both the government forces and armed protesters.