These are verified authentic Albert Camus The Rebel quotes taken from his 1951 book-length essay that focussed on diagnosing the metaphysical significance of rebellion and revolution.
The book “The Rebel” (French: L’Homme Révolté) was written by Albert Camus.
As I have mentioned above, it is about the metaphysical and the historical development of rebellion and revolution in societies.
In this book, Camus mentions a couple of famous writers and artists, including Epicurus, Lucretius, the Marquis de Sade, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Friedrich Nietzsche, Max Stirner, André Breton and others.
According to Albert Camus, a rebel is a man who says no, but whose refusal does not imply a renunciation.
The rebel is also a man who says yes, from the moment he makes his first gesture of rebellion.
French philosopher, author, and journalist Camus states that despair, like the absurd, has opinions and desires about everything in general and nothing in particular.
Silence expresses this attitude very well.
In this essay, Albert Camus argues that an act of rebellion is not, essentially, an egoistic act.
The Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature notes that rebellion does not arise only, and necessarily, among the oppressed, but that it can also be caused by the mere spectacle of oppression of which someone else is the victim.
You can read all this interesting stuff in this book which was published way back in 1951.
Albert Camus The Rebel Quotes
Now, let’s go through my selection of profound Albet Camus The Rebel quotes.
“…philosophy, which can be used for any purpose – even for transforming murderers into judges.” – Albert Camus
“…la philosophie qui peut servir à tout, même à changer les meurtriers en juges.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Introduction, P. 3)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 11)
(The quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes D’Albert Camus, Tome III, Notices De Roger Grenier, Paris: Aux Éditions Du Club De L’Honnête Homme, 1983, L’Homme Révolté, Introduction, P. 27)
“Once crime was as solitary as a cry of protest; now it is as universal as science. Yesterday it was put on trial; today it determines the law.” – Albert Camus
“Il était solitaire comme le cri, le voilà universel comme la science. Hier jugé, il légifère aujourd’hui.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, New York: Vintage Books, 1957, Introduction, P. 3)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 11)
(The quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes, Tome 3, Édition Publiée Sous La Direction De Jacqueline Lévi-Valensi, Paris: Gallimard, 2006, L’Homme Révolté, Introduction, P. 344)
“Evil and virtue are mere chance or caprice.” – Albert Camus
“Malice et vertu sont hasard ou caprice.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, New York: Vintage Books, 1957, Introduction, P. 5)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 13)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, Introduction, P. 15)
“Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.” – Albert Camus
“L’homme est la seule créature qui refuse d’être ce qu’elle est.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, Introduction, P. 11)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 19)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, Introduction, P. 22)
“What is a rebel? A man who says no.” – Albert Camus
“Qu’est-ce qu’un homme révolté ? Un homme qui dit non.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, I. The Rebel, P. 13)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, I, L’Homme Révolté, P. 21)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, Introduction, P. 25)
“Nihilism is not only despair and negation, but above all the desire to despair and to negate.” – Albert Camus
“Le nihilisme n’est pas seulement désespoir et négation, mais surtout volonté de désespérer et de nier.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, II. Metaphysical Rebellion, The Rejection Of Salvation, PP. 57-58)
(The second part of the quote is found here.)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Révolte Métaphysique, Le Refus Du Salut, P. 66)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, II. La Révolte Métaphysique, Le Refus Du Salut, P. 78)
“Every rebellion implies some kind of unity.” – Albert Camus
“Toute révolte suppose une unité.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, III. Historical Rebellion, The Regicides, The Terror, P. 125)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Régicides, La Terreur, P. 135)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Régicides. La Terreur, P. 159)
“Absolute freedom mocks at justice. Absolute justice denies freedom. To be fruitful, the two ideas must find their limits in each other.” – Albert Camus
“La liberté absolue raille la justice. La justice absolue nie la liberté. Pour être fécondes, les deux notions doivent trouver, l’une dans l’autre, leur limite.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1956, V. Thought At The Meridian, Rebellion and Murder, Historical Murder, P. 291)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Revolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 302)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 349)
“… nothing can discourage the appetite for divinity in the heart of man.” – Albert Camus
“… rien ne peut décourager l’appétit de divinité au cœur de l’homme.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961, III. Historical Rebellion, The Deicides, P. 147)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Déicides, P. 158)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Déicides, P. 185)
“All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the State.” – Albert Camus
“Toutes les révolutions modernes ont abouti à un renforcement de l’État.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, III. Historical Rebellion, State Terrorism And Irrational Terror, P. 177)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 187)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 214)
“One leader, one people, signifies one master and millions of slaves.” – Albert Camus
“Un seul chef, un seul peuple, signifie un seul maître et des millions d’esclaves.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, III. Historical Rebellion, State Terrorism And Irrational Terror, P. 182)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 192)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 220)
“More and more, revolution has found itself delivered into the hands of its bureaucrats and doctrinaires on the one hand, and to the enfeebled and bewildered masses on the other.” – Albert Camus
“De plus en plus, la révolution s’est trouvée livrée à ses bureaucrates et à ses doctrinaires d’une part, à des masses affaiblies et désorientées d’autre part.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, III. Historical Rebellion, State Terrorism And Irrational Terror, The Failing Of The Prophecy, P. 216)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’État Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, L’échec De La Prophétie, P. 226)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’État Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, L’échec De La Prophétie, P. 259)
“To those who despair of everything, not reason but only passion can provide a faith… ” – Albert Camus
“À ceux qui désespèrent de tout, ce ne sont pas les raisonnements qui peuvent rendre une foi, mais la seule passion… “ (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, III. Historical Rebellion, State Terrorism And Irrational Terror, P. 178)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 189)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 223)
“Methods of thought which claim to give the lead to our world in the name of revolution have become, in reality, ideologies of consent and not of rebellion.” – Albert Camus
“Les pensées qui prétendent mener notre monde au nom de la révolution sont devenues en réalité des idéologies de consentement, non de révolte.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 247)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 257)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 293)
“Revolution, in order to be creative, cannot do without either a moral or metaphysical rule to balance the insanity of history.” – Albert Camus
“La révolution pour être créatrice ne peut se passer d’une règle, morale ou métaphysique, qui équilibre le délire historique.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1957, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 251)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 261)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 309)
“If man wants to become God, he arrogates to himself the power of life or death over others.” – Albert Camus
“Si l’homme veut se faire Dieu, il s’arroge le droit de vie ou de mort sur les autres.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 246)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 256)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 292)
“… instead of killing and dying in order to produce the being that we are not, we have to live and let live in order to create what we are.” – Albert Camus
“… qu’au lieu de tuer et mourir pour produire l’être que nous ne sommes pas, nous avons à vivre et faire vivre pour créer ce que nous sommes.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 252)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 262)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 309)
(The second part of the quote is found here.)
“Every revolutionary ends by becoming either an oppressor or a heretic.” – Albert Camus
“Tout révolutionnaire finit en oppresseur ou en hérétique.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1956, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 249)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 259)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 296)
“The French Revolution gave birth to no artists but only to a great journalist, Desmoulins, and to a clandestine writer, Sade.” – Albert Camus
“La Révolution française ne fait naître aucun artiste, mais seulement un grand journaliste, Desmoulins, et un écrivain clandestin, Sade.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, IV. Rebellion And Art, P. 253)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, IV. Révolte En Art, P. 264)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, IV. Révolte En Art, P. 313)
“Men are never really willing to die except for the sake of freedom: therefore they do not believe in dying completely.” – Albert Camus
“Le hommes ne sont jamais bien morts que pour la liberté: ils ne croyaient pas alors mourir tout à fait.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1957, V. Thought At The Meridian, Rebellion And Murder, Historical Murder, P. 291)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 302)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 349)
“We all carry within us our places of exile, our crimes, and our ravages. But our task is not to unleash them on the world; it is to fight them in ourselves and in others.” – Albert Camus
“Nous portons tous en nous nos bagnes, nos crimes etnos ravages. Mais notre tâche n’est pas de les déchaîner à travers le monde; elle est de les combattre en nous-mêmes et dans les autres.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, V. Thought At The Meridian, Moderation And Excess, Thought At The Meridian, P. 301)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 313)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1958, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 372)
(The second part of the quote is found here.)
“All the unhappiness of human beings springs from the hope… ” – Albert Camus
“Tout le malheur des hommes vient de l’espérance… “ (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, II. Metaphysical Rebellion, The Sons Of Cainp, P. 29)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. A Révolte Métaphysique, Les Fils De Cain, P. 38)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1958, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 47)
“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” – Albert Camus
“La vraie générosité envers l’avenir consiste à tout donner au présent.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, V. Thought At The Meridian, Beyond Nihilism, P. 304)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Au Delà Du Nihilisme, P. 316)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, French & European Publications, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Au Delà Du Nihilisme, P. 376)
“Absolute justice is achieved by the suppression of all contradiction: therefore it destroys freedom. The revolution to achieve justice, through freedom, ends by aligning them against each other.” – Albert Camus
“La justice absolue passe par la suppression de toute contradiction : elle détruit la liberté . La révolution pour la justice, par la liberté, finit par les dresser l’une contre l’autre.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1957, V. Thought At The Meridian, Beyond Nihilism, P. 288)
(The second part of the quote is found here.)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 298)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 345)
“Moderation is not the opposite of rebellion. Rebellion in itself is moderation, and it demands, defends, and re-creates it throughout history and its eternal disturbances.” – Albert Camus
“La mesure n’est pas le contraire de la révolte. C’est la révolte qui est la mesure, qui l’ordonne, la défend et la recrée à travers l’histoire et ses désordres.” (French)
(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, V. Thought At The Meridian, Moderation And Excess, Thought At The Meridian, P. 301)
(The second part of the quote is found here.)
(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, PP. 312-313)
(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1958, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 372)
Note: Here are two more sources of free e-book “The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt” by Albert Camus.
Note: All the links to the sources of Albert Camus The Rebel quotes are correct and in good working order at the time of publication.