Gene Sharp Quotes
@gene-sharp-quotes.bsky.social
The purpose of this account is to quote from Gene Sharp's inspiring works on nonviolent action.
It does not engage in debate nor does it express opinions of its own.
Gene’s books are available for free here: https://www.aeinstein.org/digital-library
It does not engage in debate nor does it express opinions of its own.
Gene’s books are available for free here: https://www.aeinstein.org/digital-library
Pinned
“No outside force is coming to give oppressed people the freedom they so much want. People will have to learn how to take that freedom themselves.”
"Dictators require the assistance of the people they rule, without which they cannot secure and maintain the sources of political power.”
July 28, 2025 at 8:32 AM
"Dictators require the assistance of the people they rule, without which they cannot secure and maintain the sources of political power.”
"All governments rely on cooperation and obedience for their very existence. When people choose to withhold or withdraw that cooperation, governments are left without any pillars to support their weight."
April 21, 2025 at 6:18 AM
"All governments rely on cooperation and obedience for their very existence. When people choose to withhold or withdraw that cooperation, governments are left without any pillars to support their weight."
"Full cooperation, obedience, and support will increase the availability of the needed sources of power and, consequently, expand the power capacity of any government."
April 21, 2025 at 6:17 AM
"Full cooperation, obedience, and support will increase the availability of the needed sources of power and, consequently, expand the power capacity of any government."
"Dictators require the assistance of the people they rule, without which they cannot secure and maintain the sources
of political power.”
of political power.”
March 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
"Dictators require the assistance of the people they rule, without which they cannot secure and maintain the sources
of political power.”
of political power.”
“No outside force is coming to give oppressed people the freedom they so much want. People will have to learn how to take that freedom themselves.”
March 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
“No outside force is coming to give oppressed people the freedom they so much want. People will have to learn how to take that freedom themselves.”
"Whatever the merits of the violent option, however, one point is clear. By placing confidence in violent means, one has chosen the very type of struggle with which the oppressors nearly always have superiority. The dictators are equipped to apply violence overwhelmingly."
November 28, 2024 at 8:19 AM
"Whatever the merits of the violent option, however, one point is clear. By placing confidence in violent means, one has chosen the very type of struggle with which the oppressors nearly always have superiority. The dictators are equipped to apply violence overwhelmingly."
"Dictators require the assistance of the people they rule, without which they cannot secure and maintain the sources
of political power. These sources of political power include:"
1/10
of political power. These sources of political power include:"
1/10
November 25, 2024 at 9:59 AM
"Dictators require the assistance of the people they rule, without which they cannot secure and maintain the sources
of political power. These sources of political power include:"
1/10
of political power. These sources of political power include:"
1/10
"Resistance, not negotiations, is essential for change in conflicts where fundamental issues are at stake. In nearly all cases, resistance must continue to drive dictators out of power"
1/3
1/3
November 25, 2024 at 9:44 AM
"Resistance, not negotiations, is essential for change in conflicts where fundamental issues are at stake. In nearly all cases, resistance must continue to drive dictators out of power"
1/3
1/3
“Negotiation” does not mean that the two sides sit down together on a basis of equality and talk through and resolve the differences that produced the conflict between them.
(1/2)
(1/2)
November 25, 2024 at 9:37 AM
“Negotiation” does not mean that the two sides sit down together on a basis of equality and talk through and resolve the differences that produced the conflict between them.
(1/2)
(1/2)
"The offer by a dictatorship of “peace” through negotiations with the democratic opposition is, of course, rather disingenuous. The violence could be ended immediately by the dictators themselves, if only they would stop waging war on their own people."
1/4
1/4
November 19, 2024 at 8:06 AM
"The offer by a dictatorship of “peace” through negotiations with the democratic opposition is, of course, rather disingenuous. The violence could be ended immediately by the dictators themselves, if only they would stop waging war on their own people."
1/4
1/4
“No outside force is coming to give oppressed people the freedom they so much want. People will have to learn how to take that freedom themselves.”
November 18, 2024 at 6:27 PM
“No outside force is coming to give oppressed people the freedom they so much want. People will have to learn how to take that freedom themselves.”
Nonviolent struggle is a technique for conducting conflicts by social, psychological, economic, and political methods of protest, non-cooperation, and disruptive intervention.
(1/4)
(1/4)
November 18, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Nonviolent struggle is a technique for conducting conflicts by social, psychological, economic, and political methods of protest, non-cooperation, and disruptive intervention.
(1/4)
(1/4)
When one wants to bring down a dictatorship most effectively and with the least cost then one has four immediate tasks:
November 18, 2024 at 1:54 PM
When one wants to bring down a dictatorship most effectively and with the least cost then one has four immediate tasks: