Jean Paul Marat and “Occupy Wall Street”
Jean-Paul Marat (24 May 1743 – 13 July 1793) was a Prussian-born physician, political theorist, and scientist best known for his career in France as a radical journalist and politician during the French Revolution.
His journalism was renowned for its fiery character and uncompromising stance toward “enemies of the revolution” and basic reforms for the poorest members of society. Marat was one of the more extreme voices of the French Revolution. He was assassinated in his bathtub.
From Jean-Paul Marat:
Don’t be deceived when they tell you things are better now. Even if there’s no poverty to be seen because the poverty’s been hidden. Even if you ever got more wages and could afford to buy more of these new and useless goods which industries foist on you and even if it seems to you that you never had so much, that is only the slogan of those who still have much more than you. Don’t be taken in when they paternally pat you on the shoulder and say that there’s no inequality worth speaking of and no more reason to fight because if you believe them they will be completely in charge in their marble homes and granite banks from which they rob the people of the world under the pretence of bringing them culture. Watch out, for as soon as it pleases them they’ll send you out to protect their gold in wars whose weapons, rapidly developed by servile scientists, will become more and more deadly until they can with a flick of the finger tear a million of you to pieces.
This article was originally published on April 2, 2011.
As a result of the Occupy Wall Street protests and the growing discontent in the United States it has been updated and republished. Please share with us your thoughts about Marat’s timely quote.
About Post Author
Holte Ender
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Does anyone know the exact source of this quote? I really need it and it would be greatly appreciated
Marat, one of the architects of the Reign of Terror, government policy to eliminate all dissent and discourse, never had the vision to see past the rivers of blood he called for. As another has said, this has no original source, but the play by the German Peter Strauss…It’s good to remember that the rivers of blood that included Marat’s mingled with his bath water, flowed from the veins of 600,000 Frenchmen, most of whom were both innocent and poor.
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, over and over and over…
And as for the quote, doesn’t matter who said it when, it is still true.
Hey, any blast on mass consumerism and turning a blind eye toward inequality is good by my book. Great story, with a timely reposting.
Thank you! I try to do what I can …. 🙂
Some things never change, or do they?
Isn’t that the truth…..
Oh don’t be stupid, Marat never said this. It’s from a play, Marat/Sade, from 1963. Use google for a minute and cite your sources, you look like a tea party fucktard waving fake ben franklin quotes around.
I took this from, what I thought was a reliable source, but anyone who reads this from now on will know the truth. Apologies if I offended you.
Holte 😀
Thank you for the finally (in terms of people’s protests) timely post. You have furthered my optimism, and we have all had so little of it until now.
I was reminded of Judy Collins’ “Marat/Sade.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3a5KkZHLUg
Down with all of the ruling class
Throw all the generals out on their ass
Why do they have the gold
Why do they have the power why why why why why
Do they have the friends at the top?
Holte, the quote you cited is from a Peter Weiss play entitled “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat As Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade” in 1963.
Coool guy, instead of hurling unnecessary invectives, why not provide the appropriate source? As you can see, we do not ridicule someone taking the time to add to our knowledge.
Absolutely!!!
As he wasn’t French he was probably right. As you aren’t French you are probably right.
I’m not French does that mean I’m right? 🙂
This was as well written as any history book. Very informative and enjoyable.
Another great read, and timely indeed.
Verite!
Inequality is timeless.
The more things change the more they stay the same.