Rebel Quote by Ariel Durant
“Today's rebel is tomorrow's tyrant.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Lessons of History by Will Durant & Ariel Durant, 1968
Power shifts from rebels to rulers; today's dissenters may become future oppressors.
In simple terms: Rebels can become tyrants.
Key Takeaway
Beware the corrupting influence of power.
Themes
politics
power
history
leadership
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- activism
- government
- leadership
- education
- media
Key Concepts
authority
corruption
cycle of power
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you check power?
- What safeguards prevent tyranny?
A Different Perspective
Power can be resisted but often repeats patterns.
![“[H]istory is baroque.” quote by Ariel Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b0/ariel-durant-30878_history_h-istory-is-baroque-2609894_2609894.jpg)
![“[Eugene Smith] was always writing these diatribes about truth, and how he wanted to tell the truth, the truth, the truth. It was a real rebel position. It was kind of like a teenager's position: why can't things be like they should be? Why can't I do what I want? I latched on to that philosophy…” quote by Larry Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e56/larry-clark-25877_hey_eugene-smith-was-always-writing-these-di_31228.jpg)
