--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Revolutionaries who come to power by…" description: "\"Revolutionaries who come to power by force of arms usually have great crimes in their background. Leaders who survive campaigns by great powers to dest..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/stephen-kinzer-2514_action_revolutionaries-who-come-to-power-by-for_2542913.jpg" --- # Revolutionaries who come to power by force of arms usually… ![“Revolutionaries who come to power by force of arms usually have great crimes in their background. Leaders who survive campaigns by great powers to destroy them do not survive because they observe the niceties of law. Subversives who shape world events by covert action and violence work in shadows…” quote by Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/stephen-kinzer-2514_action_revolutionaries-who-come-to-power-by-for_2542913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/stephen-kinzer-2514_action_revolutionaries-who-come-to-power-by-for_2542913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/stephen-kinzer-2514_action_revolutionaries-who-come-to-power-by-for_2542913.jpg) > “Revolutionaries who come to power by force of arms usually have great crimes in their background. Leaders who survive campaigns by great powers to destroy them do not survive because they observe the niceties of law. Subversives who shape world events by covert action and violence work in shadows and detest the light of day.” [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It warns that violent revolutions often leave a legacy of atrocities, while covert actors manipulate events from the shadows. **In simple terms:** Violence breeds crime; covert power is hidden. Key Takeaway Seek transparent, peaceful change. Themes politics ethics history Mood critical serious Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - human rights advocacy - historical study Key Concepts revolution covert operations Questions to Reflect On - Can violent change ever be justified? - What are the costs of hidden influence? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Background](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background/) [Background Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-leaders-1449752/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Covert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covert/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Destroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroy/) [Detest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detest/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Subversives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-subversives-1449753/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-survive-1449751/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Observe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observe/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionaries/) [Revolutionaries Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionaries-come-1449750/) [Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows/) [Shape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shape/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I think we're probably only about halfway through the number of revelations. 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