Marie-Jeanne Roland de la Platiere Quotes

The tree of liberty could not grow were it not watered with the blood of tyrants

Bad as despotism is, doomed as it is to work its own ruin, the first fruits of its overthrow are not love and liberty.

Throughout the history of mankind there have been murderers and tyrants; and while it may seem momentarily that they have the upper hand, they have always fallen. Always.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

The altar of liberty totters when it is cemented only with blood

Although we resolutely supported the armed struggle against Batista's tyranny, we were, on principle, opposed to any terrorist action that could cause the death of innocent people.

Everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear.

Give me liberty or give me death.

Where the law ends tyranny begins.

Now in the whole of Europe there are only two parties: France for the freedom of peoples against all the rulers, and all the monarchs against France for despotism and old traditions.

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

Liberty has its roots in blood.

The Law! It is the arch-crime of the centuries. The path of Man is soaked with the blood it has shed. Can this great criminal determine Right? Is a revolutionist to respect such a travesty? It would mean the perpetuation of human slavery.

This nation openly endorses, tolerates and legalizes the very abuses against which she originally waged a bloody revolution.

Systematic recourse to violence put forward as the necessary path to liberation has to be condemned as a destructive illusion and one that opens the way to new forms of servitude. One must condemn with equal vigor violence exercised by the powerful against the poor, arbitrary action by the police, and any form of violence established as a system of government.

I don't believe we should have any rulers. It is right to kill them.

Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny

The bounty you must pay for freedom is to give the strength of your arms to put down tyranny. One short hour will deliver our country from the oppressor; and freedom in religion, peace and tranquility, equal laws and an improved country will be the prize.

France seems travailing in the birth of freedom. Her throes and pangs of labor are violent…. Royalty, nobility, and vile pageantry by which a few of the human race lord it over and tread on the necks of the their fellow mortals, seem like to be demolished …. Ye Gods, with what indignation do I review the late attempt of some creatures among us to revive the vile machinery. Oh Adams, Adams what a wretch thou art!

The people generally ill treated, and contrary to right, will be ready upon any occasion to ease themselves of a burden that sits heavy upon them. They will wish and seek for the opportunity, which in the change, weakness, and accidents of human affairs, seldom delays long to offer itself

Those who exercise power always arrange matters so as to give their tyranny the appearance of justice.

Unmanacle the slave… unsceptre the despot… erect an altar on the Inquisition’s grace, to raise a people to the altitude of freedom.

We have been told that…Britain is the mother and we are the children, that a filial duty and submission is due from us to her and that we ought to doubt our own judgment and presume that she is right, even when she seems to us to shake the foundations of government. But admitting we are children, have not children a right to complain when their parents are attempting to break their limbs, to administer poison, or to sell them to enemies for slaves?

The English have doubtless purchased their liberties at a very high price, and waded through seas of blood to drown the idol of arbitrary power. Other nations have been involved in as great calamities, and have shed as much blood; but then the blood they split in defense of their liberties only enslaved them the more

Tyranny cannot defeat the power of ideas.