--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a know fact that almost all…" description: "\"It is a know fact that almost all revolutions have been the work, not of the common people, but of the aristocracy, and especially of the decayed part ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/vilfredo-pareto-22240_aristocracy_it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolu_1211151.png" --- # It is a know fact that almost all revolutions have been… ![“It is a know fact that almost all revolutions have been the work, not of the common people, but of the aristocracy, and especially of the decayed part of the aristocracy.” quote by Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/vilfredo-pareto-22240_aristocracy_it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolu_1211151.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/vilfredo-pareto-22240_aristocracy_it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolu_1211151.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/vilfredo-pareto-22240_aristocracy_it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolu_1211151.png) > “It is a know fact that almost all revolutions have been the work, not of the common people, but of the aristocracy, and especially of the decayed part of the aristocracy.” [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pareto argues that revolutions are typically driven by the decaying aristocracy rather than the masses. **In simple terms:** Revolutions are led by declining elites, not common people. Key Takeaway Question elite influence in social change. Themes politics history class revolution Mood analytical critical Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - political analysis - historical study - social movement strategy Key Concepts elite theory social stratification Questions to Reflect On - Why do elites often spearhead revolutions? - What role do ordinary people play in systemic change? A Different Perspective May overlook grassroots contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutions/) ## Related quotes > [Great revolutions are the work rather of principles than of bayonets, and are achieved first in the moral, and afterwards in the material sphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-mazzini/great-revolutions-are-the-work-rather-of-principles-than-of-bayonets/) [Giuseppe Mazzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-mazzini/) > [It has always been the aim of royalty and aristocracy to lower the individual liberty and independence of the common people. A baron and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyle-o-reilly/it-has-always-been-the-aim-of-royalty-and-aristocracy-to-lower-the/) [John Boyle O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyle-o-reilly/) > [“I had forgotten that you are only a common boy. How should you understand reasons of the State? You must learn, child, that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-had-forgotten-that-you-are-only-a-common-boy-how-should-you/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [With the advent of chivalry, the art of boxing waned. The evolution of feudal aristocracy, with other and widely different exercises, pastimes and weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyle-o-reilly/with-the-advent-of-chivalry-the-art-of-boxing-waned-the-evolution-of/) [John Boyle O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyle-o-reilly/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [“I've said this before: a lot of people think they're artists because they feel things deeply. You know, we're in a culture now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-ve-said-this-before-a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-artists-because/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/that-wise-men-have-in-all-ages-thought-government-necessary-for-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) > [History more often records the brilliant successes and spectacular defeats of contending forces than the effect of war on the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-cable/history-more-often-records-the-brilliant-successes-and-spectacular/) [Mildred Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-cable/) > [Adventure is the invitation to common people to become uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-miller/adventure-is-the-invitation-to-common-people-to-become-uncommon/) [Warren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-miller/) > [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Government not just for a few, it belongs to the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/government-not-just-for-a-few-it-belongs-to-the-common-people/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [“For rulers, religion is a great tool to rule the common people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/for-rulers-religion-is-a-great-tool-to-rule-the-common-people/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) ## More by Vilfredo Pareto > [The liberals who demanded equality of taxation on behalf of the poor, for instance, did not imagine that they would obtain progressive taxation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/the-liberals-who-demanded-equality-of-taxation-on-behalf-of-the-poor/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [Give me a fruitful error any time, full of seeds, bursting with its own corrections. You can keep your sterile truth for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/give-me-a-fruitful-error-any-time-full-of-seeds-bursting-with-its-own/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [In any series of elements to be controlled, a selected small fraction, in terms of numbers of elements, always accounts for a large fraction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/in-any-series-of-elements-to-be-controlled-a-selected-small-fraction/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [All governments use force and all assert that they are founded on reason. In fact, whether universal suffrage prevails or not, it is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/all-governments-use-force-and-all-assert-that-they-are-founded-on/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [Above, far above the prejudices and passions of men soar the laws of nature. Eternal and immutable, they are the expression of the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/above-far-above-the-prejudices-and-passions-of-men-soar-the-laws-of/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [Society is not homogeneous, and those who do not deliberately close their eyes have to recognize that men differ greatly from one another from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/society-is-not-homogeneous-and-those-who-do-not-deliberately-close/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [Among civilized peoples, especially the very wealthy population of the United States of America, women have become objects of luxury who consume but do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/among-civilized-peoples-especially-the-very-wealthy-population-of-the/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [When it is useful to them, men can believe a theory of which they know nothing more than its name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/when-it-is-useful-to-them-men-can-believe-a-theory-of-which-they-know/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [The diverse natures of men, combined with the necessity to satisfy in some manner the sentiment which desires them to be equal, has had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/the-diverse-natures-of-men-combined-with-the-necessity-to-satisfy-in/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [The party that called itself liberal aimed at respecting the liberty to dispose of one's own goods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/the-party-that-called-itself-liberal-aimed-at-respecting-the-liberty/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [Assume that the new elite were clearly and simply to proclaim its intentions which are to supplant the old elite; no one would come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/assume-that-the-new-elite-were-clearly-and-simply-to-proclaim-its/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [The assertion that men are objectively equal is so absurd that it does not even merit being refuted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/the-assertion-that-men-are-objectively-equal-is-so-absurd-that-it/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [For a very long time, and among a large number of peoples, political power has belonged to the owners of the land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/for-a-very-long-time-and-among-a-large-number-of-peoples-political/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [Human behaviour reveals uniformities which constitute natural laws. If these uniformities did not exist, then there would be neither social science nor political economy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/human-behaviour-reveals-uniformities-which-constitute-natural-laws-if/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [ Theories of "natural law" and the "law of nations" are another excellent example of discussions destitute of all exactness. \[...\] "Natural law" is simply… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/theories-of-natural-law-and-the-law-of-nations-are-another-excellent/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) [Explore all 27 Vilfredo Pareto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) ## More Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a know fact that almost all revolutions have been the work, not of the common people, but of the aristocracy, and especially of the decayed part of the aristocracy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vilfredo Pareto" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolutions-have-been-the-work-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolutions-have-been-the-work-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/vilfredo-pareto-22240_aristocracy_it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolu_1211151.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/vilfredo-pareto-22240_aristocracy_it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolu_1211151.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/vilfredo-pareto-22240_aristocracy_it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolu_1211151.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a know fact that almost all revolutions have been the work, not of the common people, but of the…” — Vilfredo Pareto", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Vilfredo Pareto", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a know fact that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolutions-have-been-the-work-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/it-is-a-know-fact-that-almost-all-revolutions-have-been-the-work-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```