Who said “The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.”?

Verified

Erich Fromm. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceEscape from Freedom (1941)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Escape from Freedom (1941).

APA

Fromm, E. (n.d.). The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35988-the-successful-revolutionary-is-a-statesman-the-unsuccessful/

MLA

Fromm, Erich. “The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35988-the-successful-revolutionary-is-a-statesman-the-unsuccessful/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Fromm, Erich. “The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35988-the-successful-revolutionary-is-a-statesman-the-unsuccessful/.