kijanashakurali

[kijanashakurali]

The Unromantic Truth About Revolution: Lessons from the Macro to the Micro

In moments of unrest and yearning for change, the idea of revolution often emerges as a rallying cry for freedom and liberation. It stirs emotions, inspires action, and promises a better future. Yet, history and human experience reveal an unromantic truth about revolution: it is neither easy nor sufficient on its own. Whether we look at the grand revolutions that shaped nations or the small, personal revolts in our daily lives, the same rules apply.

Rule #1: Do Not Remove What You Cannot Replace

An old Latin phrase, “Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum”, or “He who desires peace must prepare for war,” speaks to the harsh realities of revolution. But war, whether on a national or personal scale, is not just about breaking chains—it’s about knowing what comes after the chains are gone.

Too often, revolutions fail because they remove the oppressive system but lack a viable replacement. This is true on a societal level, as seen in countless historical examples. The Abbasid Revolution succeeded because its leaders had a plan, a system, and people prepared to govern. On the other hand, the Young Turk Revolution in the Ottoman Empire led to chaos and unintended consequences because they sought change without a clear vision for what would come next.

The same is true in our personal lives. Many people dream of “breaking free” from their jobs, their financial dependencies, or their perceived oppressors. They romanticize financial freedom, leaving “the man,” or starting their own businesses. Yet, without preparation, they often find themselves in chaos. They quit without a replacement plan, without savings, without skills to sustain themselves. They become revolutionaries who topple their own stability without a replacement system.

Rule #2: Don’t Start a Fight You Can’t Finish

Starting a revolution, whether societal or personal, requires more than passion—it requires endurance. A nation that rises up must be ready to sustain years of war, sacrifice, and reconstruction. Similarly, a person who quits their job for the promise of freedom must be prepared to endure the challenges of self-employment, financial instability, and the demands of independence.

Many fail to grasp this reality. They leap into action without understanding the long-term commitment required to see their revolution through to completion. Even when they remove the obstacle (their job, for example), they cannot sustain the new lifestyle. As a result, they return, hat in hand, to the very system they sought to escape—only now, the terms are worse. They are seen as unreliable, rebellious, or even desperate.

Civilization Is No Easy Matter

Marlon Brando’s character in the movie Burn! captures this reality perfectly: “Civilization is no easy matter. Its secrets cannot be learned overnight.” This sentiment underscores the need for preparation before any revolution. Liberation is more than revolt—it is the ability to sustain oneself after the chains are gone. It means learning to do for self: growing your own food, curing your sick, building your homes, and creating systems to replace what was removed.

This applies to nations and individuals alike. Revolutions may tear down oppressive systems, but liberation requires the ability to build and sustain a better alternative. Without this, chaos ensues. And as history has shown, chaos often leads back to the very oppressors who were overthrown, now in a position of even greater power.

From Macro to Micro: The Personal Revolution

The parallels between societal revolutions and personal revolts are striking. Just as nations must prepare for the aftermath of revolution, so too must individuals who seek change in their lives. If you wish to break free from your job or financial dependence, ask yourself:

Do I have a replacement for what I am removing?

Can I sustain myself without the system I am leaving behind?

Am I willing to endure the sacrifices and challenges that come with true freedom?

Freedom is not just about breaking free; it’s about building something better. If you cannot grow your own food, cure your own sick, or build your own infrastructure, you are not ready to remove the system that provides these for you. And if you do remove it without preparation, the chaos that follows will force you back under the very system you sought to escape.

The Romanticization of Revolt

Revolution, both on a large and small scale, is often romanticized. We cheer for the overthrow of oppressors and celebrate the idea of liberation. But as history and experience show, true liberation is not about tearing down—it is about building up. It is not romantic; it is practical, methodical, and often ruthless.

If you want freedom, whether as a nation or an individual, start by preparing yourself. Build the systems you will need. Learn the skills that will sustain you. Only then will you be ready for the revolution—and only then will you be truly free.

Conclusion

Revolution without preparation is an open door to chaos. Do not remove what you cannot replace. Do not start a fight you cannot finish. And do not romanticize revolt without understanding the responsibility that comes with it. Whether you are changing the world or changing your life, the rules are the same. Freedom requires preparation. Liberation requires discipline. And true revolution—whether societal or personal—requires a plan.

[kijanashakurali]

When it comes to revolutions and liberation, it’s very different. There’s an old Latin phrase, coined by Flavius Vegetius in the 3rd century: “He who wants peace must prepare for war.” Revolutions are never peaceful. If you want peace, rest, and to enjoy the fruits of a revolution, you must be prepared to die. There is no such thing as a peaceful revolution.

This is a universal truth. In government buildings, there is often a motto to the effect of: “If you want peace, there’s no peace without war.” No nation on Earth grants peace without bloodshed. You don’t just ask for peace—“Please be nice to us”—and expect results. It doesn’t work that way. No sovereign nation will grant peace, independence, or sovereignty without a fight. If you desire peace and independence, you must be prepared to fight.

Take the example of Bani Israel. Allah promised them a land, but did He hand it over openly? No. He said, “Go and fight.” When they refused, Allah condemned them to wander the desert for 40 years until a new generation arose—one that was ready to fight for that land. They could not enter the promised land without fighting. This is a timeless law: peace and independence require a struggle.

The ancient Greeks and Romans understood this, and so does the modern world. Nothing comes for free. You cannot protest your way into sovereignty, nor petition your way into peace. There is only one language that is universally understood: preparation for war. That’s the way it is.

Malcolm X said it best: “There is no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.” In his famous Message to the Grassroots (1963), he reminded young students, full of idealistic notions about equality, fairness, and justice, of this harsh truth: revolution is inherently violent.

Thomas Jefferson also understood this. In 1787, he wrote to William Smith: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural milieu.” In other words, freedom requires bloodshed on both sides. Liberation always comes at a cost.

Revolution is not about protests or petitions. When you call for revolution, you are calling for bloodshed. This is a fact that is universally attested to. Consider the American Revolution: it wasn’t fought with placards or petitions, but with lives lost. The same is true for the Russian Revolution. Lenin famously said: “A river of blood divides us from the old regime.” To free themselves from Tsar Nicholas II, Russians had to spill blood. Lenin declared: “It is time for Russian workers to begin the struggle.”

Revolutions are not fought with Twitter fingers. They are not won by tweeting, protesting, or petitioning. Revolutions mean saying goodbye to your loved ones and risking your life. The American Revolution wasn’t won on social media. It required people to die. The Russian Revolution wasn’t carried out with hashtags; it required a river of blood. The same can be said for the Haitian Revolution, which created the first Black Republic in the world. Independence there required unimaginable bloodshed. Every white colonizer had to be killed in the struggle—there was no peaceful way out. Haitians had to fight with guns and knives to achieve their freedom.

In China, Mao Zedong declared: “The Chinese nation has the spirit to fight the enemy to the last drop of blood.” Not through petitions, not through diplomacy at the UN, but through a willingness to spill every last drop of blood for independence. Every one of these revolutions changed the world.

Here’s the irony: the nations today that claim to be the brokers of peace, the guarantors of global stability, only achieved their own power through bloody revolutions. The United States, Russia, Haiti, China—all of them attained peace, sovereignty, and power through violence, not through petitions or dialogue.

Malcolm X emphasized this repeatedly. The people you’re asking for peace, reparations, and justice from did not achieve what they have through peaceful means. They fought and bled for it. Revolution demands the ultimate sacrifice.

This is why scholars warn against rushing into revolution. We’ve seen what happens in the Muslim world and other regions. The consequences of ill-prepared revolutions can last generations. It’s not a light matter. Revolutions demand a high price.