Tony Benn Quotes

Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself.

Remember, imperialism is always presented as humanitarian: the white man’s burden, the cross going round the world, the poor benighted natives, the sun never sets. . . So you have to be very careful about humanitarianism.

I’ve made every mistake – but mistakes are how you learn.

There is no moral difference between a stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. Both kill innocent people for political reasons.

Through talk, we tamed kings, restrained tyrants, averted revolution

The one thing that is absolutely essential is that there shouldn’t be any governmental control [of the media] directly or indirectly.

I believe the more difficult the circumstances, the more people will be inclined to trust those in charge at the moment.

I think democracy is the most revolutionary thing in the world, because if you have power you use it to meet the needs of you and your community.

It’s the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you’re mad, then dangerous, then there’s a pause and then you can’t find anyone who disagrees with you.

A faith is something you die for; a doctrine is something you kill for; there is all the difference in the world.

Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. And then he wins the world peace prize and becomes president of South Africa. That’s how change happens. It’s very important not to differentiate protest from the democratic process.

I think if journalists were responsible for international policy we’d have a nuclear war every week.