Shelley, Percy Bysshe -- Poem (1819), “The Mask of Anarchy,” st. 38

Dave — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:12:13 +0000

Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you
Ye are many — they are few.

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) English poet
Poem (1819), “The Mask of Anarchy,” st. 38
(Source)

Writing as the voice of England talking to her children. The words are repeated in the final stanza.

The poem was subtitled "Written on the Occasion of the Massacre at Manchester," referring to the Peterloo Massacre (1819-08-16), when a large, peaceful demonstration for parliamentary representation by millworkers and their families was attacked by regular and irregular cavalry troops, attempting to arrest the protest leader, Henry Hunt, and break up the assembly. Hundreds were wounded, and around a dozen killed.

King, Martin Luther -- “The Other America,” speech, Stanford University (14 Apr 1967)

Dave — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:00:33 +0000

A riot is the language of the unheard.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
“The Other America,” speech, Stanford University (14 Apr 1967)
(Source)

WIST Quotations

Shelley, Percy Bysshe -- Poem (1819), “The Mask of Anarchy,” st. 38

King, Martin Luther -- “The Other America,” speech, Stanford University (14 Apr 1967)