In times of revolution, beware of the first head that falls. It whets the people’s appetite.
[En temps de révolution, prenez garde à la première tête qui tombe. Elle met le peuple en appétit.]
Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French writer, journalist, human rights activist, politician
Last Day of a Condemned Man [Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné], 1832 Preface (1829) [tr. Woolen (1992)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Other translations:In times of revolution, take care for the first head which falls, -- it whets the appetite of the people!
[tr. Reynolds (1840)]In revolutionary times, beware of the first execution. It excites the sanguinary passions of the mob.
[tr. Fleetwood (1840)]At the time of a revolution, look out for the first head that falls. It whets the people's appetite.
[tr. Ward (1896)]During any revolution beware the first head that rolls. It gives the people an appetite.
[tr. Moncrieff (2009)]
Quotations about:
blood-lust
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
LAWRENCE: I — killed — two people, I mean two Arabs. One was a boy — this was yesterday. … I led him into a quicksand. The other was a man — that was, oh let me see — before Akaba anyway — I had to execute him with my pistol. … There was something about it I didn’t like.
ALLENBY: Well, naturally.
LAWRENCE: No. Something else.
ALLENBY: I see. Well that’s all right. Let it be a warning.
LAWRENCE: No. Something else.
ALLENBY: What then?
LAWRENCE: I enjoyed it.
Robert Bolt (1924–1995) English dramatist
Lawrence of Arabia, Part 1, sc. 621-623 (1962) [with Michael Wilson]
(Source)
The above is from the Bolt shooting script. The actual movie sequence has slightly different language and intonation in Lawrence's first line:I killed two people, I mean, two Arabs. One was a boy. That was -- yesterday. I led him into a quicksand. The other was a man. That was -- before Aqaba, anyway. I had to execute him with my pistol. There was something about it I didn't like.
Break the skin of civilization and you find the ape, roaring and red-handed.
