In every revolution there intrude, at the side of its true agents, men of a different stamp; some of them survivors of and devotees to past revolutions, without insight into the present movement, but preserving popular influence by their known honesty and courage, or by the sheer force of tradition; others mere brawlers, who, by dint of repeating year after year the same set of stereotyped declamations against the government of the day, have sneaked into the reputation of revolutionists of the first water They are an unavoidable evil: with time they are shaken off.

Summary

This quote suggests that in every revolution, there are individuals who join alongside the true agents of change. Some of them are individuals who have survived and supported past revolutions, without fully understanding or adapting to the present movement. However, they maintain popularity through their known integrity and bravery or due to their association with tradition. Others are simply loud and aggressive protestors who gain a reputation as revolutionary figures by continuously repeating the same complaints against the government over the years. While these individuals may be seen as undesirable, the quote implies that they are ultimately removed from the movement as time progresses.

Topics