WIST Quotations

Montesquieu -- Spirit of Laws [The Spirit of the Laws; De l’esprit des lois], Book 19, ch. 27 (1748) [tr. Nugent (1750)]

Dave — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:54:09 +0000

A free nation may have a deliverer; a nation enslaved can have only another oppressor. For whoever is able to dethrone an absolute prince has a power sufficient to become absolute himself.

[Une nation libre peut avoir un libérateur; une nation subjuguée ne peut avoir qu’un autre oppresseur. Car tout homme qui a assez de force pour chasser celui qui est déja le maître absolu dans un état, en a assez pour le devenir lui-même.]

Charles-Lewis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French political philosopher
Spirit of Laws [The Spirit of the Laws; De l’esprit des lois], Book 19, ch. 27 (1748) [tr. Nugent (1750)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

A free nation can have a liberator; a subjugated nation can only have another oppressor. For any man who has enough strength to drive out the one who is already the absolute master in a state has enough to become one himself.
[tr. Cohler/Miller/Stone (1989)]

A free nation can have a liberator; a subjugated nation can only have another oppressor. For any man who has enough force to drive out him who is already the absolute master in a state has enough to become the master himself.
[tr. Stewart (2018)]

Zapata, Emiliano -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 23:14:38 +0000

I’d rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.

[Prefiero morir de pie que vivir de rodillas.]

Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919) Mexican revolutionary, reformer [Emiliano Zapata Salazar]
(Attributed)

Often misattributed to Che Guevara, José Martí, and other revolutionaries. Popularized by "La Pasionaria" Dolores Ibárruri, during her speeches and broadcasts in the Spanish Civil War. More discussion here.

Alternate versions/translations:

"I'd prefer to die standing, than to live always on my knees! [¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!]"
"Men of the South! It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
"I would rather die standing than live on my knees!"
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
"I prefer to die standing than to live forever kneeling."
"Prefer death on your feet to living on your knees."

Lorde, Audre -- “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” (1979)

Dave — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:46:27 +0000

For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change.

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) American writer, feminist, civil rights activist
“The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” (1979)
(Source)