Jean Paul Marat and “Occupy Wall Street”

Read Time:1 Minute, 34 Second

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.

The Death of Marat by David

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

Holte Ender will always try to see your point of view, but sometimes it is hard to stick his head that far up his @$$.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

18 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Marco Andono Sie
4 years ago

Does anyone know the exact source of this quote? I really need it and it would be greatly appreciated

tbeachhead
11 years ago

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.

dp1053
12 years ago

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.

greenlight
12 years ago

Hey, any blast on mass consumerism and turning a blind eye toward inequality is good by my book. Great story, with a timely reposting.

Reply to  greenlight
12 years ago

Thank you! I try to do what I can …. 🙂

12 years ago

Some things never change, or do they?

Reply to  Collin Hinds
12 years ago

Isn’t that the truth…..

Coool Guy
12 years ago

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.

Reply to  Coool Guy
12 years ago

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.

12 years ago

Absolutely!!!

12 years ago

As he wasn’t French he was probably right. As you aren’t French you are probably right.

Michael John Scott
Reply to  Four Dinners
12 years ago

I’m not French does that mean I’m right? 🙂

Robert E. Lee
12 years ago

This was as well written as any history book. Very informative and enjoyable.

Michael John Scott
12 years ago

Another great read, and timely indeed.

David Rice
12 years ago

Verite!

greenlight
12 years ago

Inequality is timeless.

BigHarryH
12 years ago

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Previous post Sentence reduced for first offense of selling marijuana in Oklahoma (Video)
Next post Fox to cancel “The Simpsons?”
18
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x