Sayed Kashua Quotes

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.

None of us is certain about the outcome of the Arab Spring.

In a democracy, when you have 20 million people in the street, you resign. Unfortunately, we don’t have a process of recall or impeachment as you have. It was a popular uprising rejecting Mr. Morsi’s continuing in power. Unfortunately, people had to call on the army to intervene. The army had to intervene because short of that, we would have ended up in a civil war.

The Arab world is erupting, which is extraordinary, and to see it happen is like watching rings spreading on a pool - it goes out; it varies so much. The spontaneity is wonderful, but very often, if it's not well organized, it breaks up, and it peters out.

I think this is really a defining moment for the Arab world. The problem is, it is all going to be about blood, sweat and tears. In certain countries it may be just sweat, and in some countries sweat and tears, and in some countries, as you can see, a lot of blood. I think initial instability is something that we are all extremely nervous of.

If we don't make earnest moves toward real solutions, then each day we move one day closer to revolution and anarchy in this country. This is the sad, and yet potentially joyous, state of America.

The Arab Spring showed that people are not going to wait for an American president to make good on his big talk about democracy and human rights; they are going to fight for those rights themselves and overthrow pro-American dictators who stand in their way.

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

As you know with the Arab Spring, there were no dividends.

George W. Bush and his administration have hijacked the American apparatus… If people acted on what they felt in their hearts, they would ring the White House with burning torches and pitchforks.

America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

Revolts, republics, revolutions, most no graver than a schoolboy’s barring out.

To fight against the government with any means is a basic right and sport of every German.

I came to the cities in a time of disorder When hunger ruled. I came among men in a time of uprising And I revolted with them.

[On Russia's civil disorder:] Comrade deputies, the most essential thing now is to overcome the crisis, to restore order in the country.

A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.... Unsuccessful rebellions indeed generally establish the encroachment on the rights of people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governments so mild in their punishment of rebellion so as not to discourage them too much.

Something is stirring in the hearts and minds of the people.

A minority of malcontents, some justly, some unjustly, angry with the present state of things, will always exist in this world.

When citizens have no political way to deal with revolution, they become counter-revolutionary.

When the government violates the people's rights, insurrection is ... the most sacred of rights and the most indispensable of duties.

Americans have a tendency to exalt the concept of a popular uprising.

We are on the threshold of a significant breakthrough, and the greatest weapon is the mass demonstration.

I am against revolutions. We have had negative experience with coups and rallies in the past. We remember the shooting at the White House in Moscow The new Russian protest is the most beautiful, most peaceful, most intelligent protest in the world—not a single broken window, not a single burned care or victim.

The so called “Arab Spring” … is really a situation which is creating more threats so far than positive incentives.

In 1921 there was an extensive Red Scare and Military Intelligence thought that we were only days away from a civil war.