Quotes About Change

Viaggiare è nascere e morire in ogni momento. Forse, nella più vaga regione della sua mente, faceva accostamenti tra quei mutevoli orizzonti e l'esistenza umana. Tutte le cose della vita sono continuamente in fuga davanti a noi. Gli ottenebramenti e le luci si frammischiano: dopo un abbagliamento, un'eclisse; si guarda, ci si affretta, si tendono le mani per afferrare ciò che passa; ogni evento è una svolta della strada; e d'un tratto si è vecchi.

partir,c'est mourir un peu...

The French Revolution, which is nothing more nor less than the ideal armed with the sword, rose abruptly, and by that very movement, closed the door of evil and opened the door of good. It released the question, promulgated truth, drove away miasma, purified the century, crowned the people. We can say it created man a second time, in giving him a second soul, his rights. Page 997 Saint-Denis chapter 7 Argot part III

great events have incalculable results.

If we are to believe certain oracles of crafty political views, a little revolt is desirable from the point of view of power. System: revolt strengthens those governments which it does not overthrow.

To understand the nature of the Revolution we must call it progress; and we may define progress by the word tomorrow.

First I loved women, then animals, and now I love stones. They're just as amusing as women and animals and they're much less trecherous.

Les contre-façons du passé prennent de faux noms et s'appellent volontiers l'avenir. Ce revenant, le passé, est sujet à falsifier son passe-port. Mettons-nous au fait du piège. Défions-nous. Le passé a un visage, la superstition, et un masque, l'hypocrisie. Dénonçons le visage et arrachons le masque.

Yes, the brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over, this is recognized: that the human race has been harshly treated, but that it has advanced.

At the same time, his ideas underwent an extraordinary change. The phases of this change were numerous and successive.

In becoming dirt, she has been turned to stone. To touch her is to feel a chill.

Se quereis saber o que é a revolução, chamai-lhe Progresso, se quereis saber o que é o progresso, chamai-lhe Amanhã

And these things took place, and the kings resumed their thrones, and the master of Europe was put in a cage, and the old régime became the new régime, and all the shadows and all the light of the earth changed place, because, on the afternoon of a certain summer's day, a shepherd said to a Prussian in the forest, "Go this way, and not that!

Au-dessus de l'absolu révolutionnaire, il y a l'absolu humain.

Yes, the brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over, this fact is recognized,—that the human race has been treated harshly, but that it has progressed.

The French Revolution, which is nothing else than the idea armed with the sword, rose erect, and, with the same abrupt movement, closed the door of ill and opened the door of good.

It is a mournful task to break the sombre attachments of the past.

You see this hell from which you have just emerged is the first form of heaven. It was necessary to begin there.

As long as there are misérables there will be a cloud on the horizon that can become a phantom and a phantom that can become Marat.

In our nineteenth century the religious idea is undergoing a crisis. Certain things have been unlearnt, and this is good, provided other things are learnt. There must be no void in the human heart.

Jean Valjean had entered the galleys sobbing and shuddering; he emerged impassive. He had entered in despair; he emerged gloomy.

It is the accursed inventions of this century that are ruining everything--artilleries, bombards, and, above all, printing, that other German pest. No more manuscripts, no more books! printing will kill bookselling. It is the end of the world that is drawing nigh.

Better than the tread of mighty armies is an idea whose time has come.

Les révolutions sont de magnifiques improvisatrices. Un peu échevelées quelquefois.