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About this quote

What does it mean?
Revolutionaries attract both those excluded by and those too principled for existing institutions.
In plain terms
Revolutionary groups include people the system rejects or finds too good.
What can you take from it?
Revolution happens when systems fail many people.

Where it applies

  • political change
  • social critique
  • organizing

Putting it to work

  • analyze institutional failures
  • support inclusive reform

Questions to consider

  • Who gets left out of institutions?
  • Why do people revolt?

Another view

This oversimplifies the diverse motivations of movements.

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