--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A revolution is not a dinner party, or…" description: "\"A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/anonymous-1_acts-of-violence_a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-or-wr_2600093.jpg" --- # A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay… ![“A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/anonymous-1_acts-of-violence_a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-or-wr_2600093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/anonymous-1_acts-of-violence_a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-or-wr_2600093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/anonymous-1_acts-of-violence_a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-or-wr_2600093.jpg) > “A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Revolution is violent, not refined; it cannot be gentle or courteous. **In simple terms:** Revolution is violent, not polite. Key Takeaway Accept the harsh reality of change. Themes politics violence social upheaval Mood serious critical Type political historical When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - social movements Key Concepts history philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to revolution? - Can change be peaceful? A Different Perspective Violence can cause collateral harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acts of violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-of-violence/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-struggle/) [Courteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courteous/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Dinner party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-party/) [Embroidery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embroidery/) [Essays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essays/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Insurrection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insurrection/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Magnanimous Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnanimous-revolution-1936026/) [Overthrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overthrows-1936025/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting a picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-a-picture/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Rebellious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellious/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolution Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution-dinner-456392/) [Revolution Insurrection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution-insurrection-1936024/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [ A revolution is not a dinner party \[...\] A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-a-revolution-is-an-insurrection-an/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“Revolution is not a dinner party, nor an essay, nor a painting, nor a piece of embroidery; it cannot be advanced softly, gradually, carefully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-pandita/revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-nor-an-essay-nor-a-painting-nor-a/) [Rahul Pandita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-pandita/) > [Revolution is not a dinner party, not an essay, nor a painting, nor a piece of embroidery; it cannot be advanced softly, gradually, carefully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-not-an-essay-nor-a-painting-nor-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-or-writing-an-essay-or-painting-a/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [When God has once begun to throw down the prosperous, He overthrows them altogether: such is the end of the mighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/when-god-has-once-begun-to-throw-down-the-prosperous-he-overthrows/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If the subject's easy we may all be wise; What stands unfirm, the smallest force overthrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/if-the-subject-s-easy-we-may-all-be-wise-what-stands-unfirm-the/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Revolution is not a dinner party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-yat-sen/revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party/) [Sun Yat-sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-yat-sen/) > [“In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue and white; Like sapphire, pearl, and rich embroidery, Buckled below fair knighthood's bending knee; Fairies use flower for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-emerald-tufts-flowers-purple-blue-and-white-like-sapphire-pearl/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I made my song a coat Covered with embroideries Out of old mythologies From heel to throat But the fools caught it, Wore it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-made-my-song-a-coat-covered-with-embroideries-out-of-old/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe, even when I'm doing my standup or my acting or whatever I'm doing, I believe in painting pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/i-believe-even-when-i-m-doing-my-standup-or-my-acting-or-whatever-i-m/) [J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/) > [When I'm painting the picture, I'm really painting a picture. I may have a flat-footed technique, or something like that, but still, to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/when-i-m-painting-the-picture-i-m-really-painting-a-picture-i-may/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [There is the happiness which comes from creative effort. The joy of dreaming, creating, building, whether in painting a picture, writing an epic, singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/there-is-the-happiness-which-comes-from-creative-effort-the-joy-of/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [I think I'm painting a picture of two women but it may turn out to be a landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/i-think-i-m-painting-a-picture-of-two-women-but-it-may-turn-out-to-be/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Acting is like painting pictures on bathroom tissues. Ten minutes later you throw them away and they are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-winters/acting-is-like-painting-pictures-on-bathroom-tissues-ten-minutes/) [Shelley Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-winters/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Acts of violence quotes > [There was a man named Robert Dear who in court said he was a warrior for the babies, whose ex-wife talked about his Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/there-was-a-man-named-robert-dear-who-in-court-said-he-was-a-warrior/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [“By the time they're out of preschool, most children have already seen thousands of acts of violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/by-the-time-they-re-out-of-preschool-most-children-have-already-seen/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [We would never ask any other faith community to stand up and condemn acts of violence committed by people within their groups. The fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/we-would-never-ask-any-other-faith-community-to-stand-up-and-condemn/) [Linda Sarsour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sarsour/) > [I learned that victims come in all image - some raped, some witnessing an act of violence, some losing loved ones. I learned that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/i-learned-that-victims-come-in-all-image-some-raped-some-witnessing/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [I want people around the world to hear me. To all those who would do us harm, no act of terror will go unpunished.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-people-around-the-world-to-hear-me-to-all-those-who-would-do/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [How do we deal with not just the acts of violence, but the extremist ideology that lies behind them? Because though the numbers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/how-do-we-deal-with-not-just-the-acts-of-violence-but-the-extremist/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Muslim leaders around the globe have to continue working with us to decisively and unequivocally reject the hateful ideology that groups like ISIL and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/muslim-leaders-around-the-globe-have-to-continue-working-with-us-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The introduction of numbers as coordinates by reference to the particular division scheme of the open one-dimensional continuum is an act of violence whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-weyl/the-introduction-of-numbers-as-coordinates-by-reference-to-the/) [Hermann Weyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-weyl/) > [“He wished he understood where they come from: all the terrorists, religious revolutionists and hate-criminals. 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At its best, it represented the free exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/during-the-summer-of-2009-the-debate-on-health-care-reform-was/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) [Browse all 133 Acts of violence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-of-violence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. 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