Who said “The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.”?

Verified

Hannah Arendt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe New Yorker (12 September 1970)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The New Yorker (12 September 1970).

APA

Arendt, H. (n.d.). The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35958-the-most-radical-revolutionary-will-become-a-conservative/

MLA

Arendt, Hannah. “The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35958-the-most-radical-revolutionary-will-become-a-conservative/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Arendt, Hannah. “The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35958-the-most-radical-revolutionary-will-become-a-conservative/.