Who said “Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a…”?

Verified

Saul Alinsky. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceRules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971)

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“Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.”
— Saul Alinsky
VerifiedRules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971) · evidenceChange

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971).

APA

Alinsky, S. (n.d.). Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9139-change-means-movement-movement-means-friction-only-in/

MLA

Alinsky, Saul. “Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9139-change-means-movement-movement-means-friction-only-in/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Alinsky, Saul. “Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9139-change-means-movement-movement-means-friction-only-in/.

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