Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Saul Alinsky

Quote by Saul Alinsky

Author

Saul Alinsky
Saul Alinsky

Saul Alinsky was an American writer and community organizer recognized for his seminal work in the realm of social activism. He is predominantly known for his seminal book 'Rules for Radicals', which has profoundly influenced contemporary political tactics and community organizing principles. more

You May Also Like

“A revolution without a prior reformation would collapse or become a totalitarian tyranny. A reformation means that masses of our people have reached the point of disillusionment with past ways and values. They don't know what will work but they do know that the prevailing system is self-defeating, frustrating, and hopeless. They won't act for change but won't strongly oppose those who do. The time is then ripe for revolution”

PeopleKnowsWayMeanSelfPastValuesRevolutionMassTyrannyHopelessCollapseFrustratingRipeReformationPrevailingDisillusionmentRules For Radicals
Author:Saul Alinsky
Create image

“An organizer working in and for an open society is in an ideological dilemma to begin with, he does not have a fixed truth - truth to him is relative and changing; everything to him is relative and changing.... To the extent that he is free from the shackles of dogma, he can respond to the realities of the widely different situations.”

DoeDifferentRealitySituationFixedRelativeDogmaDilemmaIdeologicalShacklesOrganizerRules For RadicalsChanging Everything
Author:Saul Alinsky
Create image

“A Marxist begins with his prime truth that all evils are caused by the exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists. From this he logically proceeds to the revolution to end capitalism, then into the third stage of reorganization into a new social order of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and finally the last stage -- the political paradise of communism.”

EndsLastsPoliticalOrderEvilSocialStageRevolutionCapitalismThirdsCommunismParadisePrimeCapitalistDictatorshipExploitationMarxistProletariatSocial OrderRules For RadicalsReorganization
Book:Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals
Create image

“The end is what you want, the means is how you get it. Whenever we think about social change, the question of means and ends arises. The man of action views the issue of means and ends in pragmatic and strategic terms. He has no other problem; he thinks only of his actual resources and the possibilities of various choices of action. He asks of ends only whether they are achievable and worth the cost; of means, only whether they will work. ... The real arena is corrupt and bloody.”

ThinkingMenWantMeanRealEndsProblemActionChoicesAsksSocialTermViewsIssuesPossibilityHe ManCostResourcesVariousWhat You WantAriseBloodyArenaSocial ChangeStrategicPragmaticRules For Radicals
Author:Saul Alinsky
Create image