--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Arab Spring is over. The days of the…" description: "\"The Arab Spring is over. The days of the protesters with laptops and BlackBerrys in Tahrir Square are long gone.\" — Richard Engel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/richard-engel-3133_arab_the-arab-spring-is-over-the-days-of-the_2159531.jpg" --- # The Arab Spring is over. The days of the protesters with… ![“The Arab Spring is over. The days of the protesters with laptops and BlackBerrys in Tahrir Square are long gone.” quote by Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/richard-engel-3133_arab_the-arab-spring-is-over-the-days-of-the_2159531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/richard-engel-3133_arab_the-arab-spring-is-over-the-days-of-the_2159531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/richard-engel-3133_arab_the-arab-spring-is-over-the-days-of-the_2159531.jpg) > “The Arab Spring is over. The days of the protesters with laptops and BlackBerrys in Tahrir Square are long gone.” [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The initial wave of digital‑driven protests has ended. **In simple terms:** Protests have faded. Key Takeaway Recognize new forms of civic engagement. Themes activism technology political change history Mood reflective serious Type journalistic historical When to use this quote - community organizing - online advocacy - policy reform Key Concepts social media collective action state response Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can activists learn from past protests? - How might technology evolve to support dissent? A Different Perspective New movements may arise in different shapes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab/) [Arab spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab-spring/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Laptops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laptops/) [Protesters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protesters/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Tahrir square](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tahrir-square/) ## Related quotes > [I'm optimistic, though. Now, with the Arab Spring, I think that people in the region are beginning to overturn some of these clichés, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annia-ciezadlo/i-m-optimistic-though-now-with-the-arab-spring-i-think-that-people-in/) [Annia Ciezadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annia-ciezadlo/) > [When students and liberals initially occupied Tahrir Square, it looked like it might be a passing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/when-students-and-liberals-initially-occupied-tahrir-square-it-looked/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Hamas has long been Israel's enemy, but in the wake of the Arab Spring, the group is empowered like never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/hamas-has-long-been-israel-s-enemy-but-in-the-wake-of-the-arab-spring/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Both of these places, Cairo's downtown and Tahrir Square, are in the heart of downtown Cairo. They are places where young people gather to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-fadel/both-of-these-places-cairo-s-downtown-and-tahrir-square-are-in-the/) Leila Fadel > [The achievement of Tahrir Square wasn’t just its grand political movement but the tiny personal battles fought and won against the frictions wearing down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shereen-el-feki/the-achievement-of-tahrir-square-wasn-t-just-its-grand-political/) [Shereen El Feki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shereen-el-feki/) > [I have some friends who were involved in the Tahrir Square uprising in Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-spector/i-have-some-friends-who-were-involved-in-the-tahrir-square-uprising/) [Morgan Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-spector/) > [I thought it was interesting to see that Israel did not play a role in this revolution. The man on Cairo's Tahrir Square doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-thought-it-was-interesting-to-see-that-israel-did-not-play-a-role/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [ All the signs of incipient activism and uprising, from Tahrir square to Zuccotti Park to \[the recent\] shutdown of the Internet to protest web… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/all-the-signs-of-incipient-activism-and-uprising-from-tahrir-square/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [There's a long history in the Middle East of "bread intifadas," starting with 1977 in Egypt, when Anwar Sadat tried to lift bread subsidies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annia-ciezadlo/there-s-a-long-history-in-the-middle-east-of-bread-intifadas-starting/) [Annia Ciezadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annia-ciezadlo/) > [ I don't demonize the downside. As we've seen in Egypt and Tahrir square and other recent event, the adhesiveness through \[technology\] kinds of communication… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/i-don-t-demonize-the-downside-as-we-ve-seen-in-egypt-and-tahrir/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) > [I am often asked what it is like to be on the 'front line.' But I do not use the term 'front line' to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-am-often-asked-what-it-is-like-to-be-on-the-front-line-but-i-do-not/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [In Pakistan anti-American protesters set a Kentucky Fried chicken restaurant on fire. The protesters mistakenly thought they were attacking high-ranking U.S. military official Colonel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/in-pakistan-anti-american-protesters-set-a-kentucky-fried-chicken/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [National League umpires wear inside chest protesters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/national-league-umpires-wear-inside-chest-protesters/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/if-i-can-take-on-100-000-protesters-i-can-do-the-same-across-the-world/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) > [Protesters can't violate First Amendment rights. Only the government can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/protesters-can-t-violate-first-amendment-rights-only-the-government/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## More by Richard Engel > [The Syrians are better suited to sort out their internal divisions than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/the-syrians-are-better-suited-to-sort-out-their-internal-divisions/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Anyone who follows the Middle East and Islamic world in general can't deny it is often a very violent place, that a band of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/anyone-who-follows-the-middle-east-and-islamic-world-in-general-can-t/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [An Egyptian newspaper once publicly identified me as the C.I.A. station chief in Cairo. It seemed so stupid at the time. I was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/an-egyptian-newspaper-once-publicly-identified-me-as-the-c-i-a/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [It's probably time to end the global war on terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/it-s-probably-time-to-end-the-global-war-on-terrorism/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Israel is becoming a fortress. Fences along the borders with Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/israel-is-becoming-a-fortress-fences-along-the-borders-with-egypt/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Every country where the the United States maintains troops has a status of forces agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/every-country-where-the-the-united-states-maintains-troops-has-a/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [There are many Israelis who are not keen on Barack Obama - they did not want to see him elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-are-many-israelis-who-are-not-keen-on-barack-obama-they-did-not/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [If you're in part of rebel-controlled Syria, and suddenly your house blows up or a building next to you blows up, it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/if-you-re-in-part-of-rebel-controlled-syria-and-suddenly-your-house/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Every child is taught if you try to please everyone, you end up upsetting everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/every-child-is-taught-if-you-try-to-please-everyone-you-end-up/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [There weren't many weapons in Egypt in the 1990s. Police controls on guns were very strict back then. That is no longer the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-weren-t-many-weapons-in-egypt-in-the-1990s-police-controls-on/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Bin Laden is dead, and most of his friends are dead. But did it need to cost a trillion dollars and two land wars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/bin-laden-is-dead-and-most-of-his-friends-are-dead-but-did-it-need-to/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Many senior government officials, CIA, FBI, counter terrorism officials - when they look back at the decade, they effectively conclude that the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-senior-government-officials-cia-fbi-counter-terrorism-officials/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Many governments are quick to condemn Assad, but a dwindling number of them would celebrate a rebel victory in Damascus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-governments-are-quick-to-condemn-assad-but-a-dwindling-number-of/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Israel sees the world just beyond its borders collapsing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/israel-sees-the-world-just-beyond-its-borders-collapsing/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) [Explore all 138 Richard Engel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## More Arab quotes > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The majority of Arab people would side with Russia and China, not with the West. And they'd throw their 'elites' groomed in and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/the-majority-of-arab-people-would-side-with-russia-and-china-not-with/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [“For the Arab, the past does not merely live. The past defines the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-bunn/for-the-arab-the-past-does-not-merely-live-the-past-defines-the/) [Davis Bunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-bunn/) > [Al Jazeera is a representation of, you know, diversity in the Arab world. In our newsroom, we have every single nationality, we have every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/al-jazeera-is-a-representation-of-you-know-diversity-in-the-arab/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [The twin causes Bin Laden invokes are Islam and Arab self-determination, and armies rise to serve him. No need to convert or dogmatize. Believers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/the-twin-causes-bin-laden-invokes-are-islam-and-arab-self/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Arab youth are taught to wonder, 'Since the Holocaust was a European affair, why are the Palestinians being forced to pay for the creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bronfman-sr/arab-youth-are-taught-to-wonder-since-the-holocaust-was-a-european/) [Edgar Bronfman, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bronfman-sr/) > [The majority of Arab people see the United States and Israel (definitely not Iran or Syria) as the greatest danger to the world. Could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/the-majority-of-arab-people-see-the-united-states-and-israel/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [I'm called a terrorist in the Arab media still today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-shamir/i-m-called-a-terrorist-in-the-arab-media-still-today/) [Yitzhak Shamir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-shamir/) > [I have been to Burj-Al-Arab. And I visit Dubai quite often, I really like the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-dhupia/i-have-been-to-burj-al-arab-and-i-visit-dubai-quite-often-i-really/) [Neha Dhupia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-dhupia/) > [History may someday record that the Arab awakening that began with the Arab revolt of 1916 against the Ottomans ended about a century later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/history-may-someday-record-that-the-arab-awakening-that-began-with/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [None of us is certain about the outcome of the Arab Spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/none-of-us-is-certain-about-the-outcome-of-the-arab-spring/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [As you know with the Arab Spring, there were no dividends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/as-you-know-with-the-arab-spring-there-were-no-dividends/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [ \[Arab peoples\] are stuck back thousands of years and they think they're going to get out with a TV set. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/arab-peoples-are-stuck-back-thousands-of-years-and-they-think-they-re/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [I was one of the first people in the Palestinian world, in the late 1970s, to say that there is no military option, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/i-was-one-of-the-first-people-in-the-palestinian-world-in-the-late/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) [Browse all 310 Arab quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Arab Spring is over. 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