"Toda revolución se evapora y deja atrás solo la baba de una nueva burocracia"

The essence of this quote is that revolutionary movements, no matter how grand or idealistic their beginnings, eventually settle into a state of mundane routine and administration. At the start, revolutions often promise sweeping change and a break from the old ways. But as time goes on, they tend to create new systems of control and bureaucracy — often not so different from what they replaced.

Historically, this idea has been seen time and again. Take the French Revolution, for example. It began in 1789 as a fervent outcry against the monarchy and the feudal system, driven by ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. But what followed? After the storming of the Bastille and the Reign of Terror, the revolution gave birth to the Napoleonic era and eventually a new, often oppressive, bureaucratic regime. The same pattern can be observed in the Russian Revolution of 1917, which started with the overthrow of the Tsarist autocracy only to replace it with the bureaucratic Soviet Union.

Imagine you're in a small tech startup — it’s all about innovation, creativity, breaking the rules, and changing the game. At the beginning, everyone’s working out of a garage, and the atmosphere is electric. But fast forward a few years. The company grows, and to manage this growth, it starts layering in policies, procedures, and middle management. Before you know it, the startup has its own HR department, compliance officers, and tons of red tape. The exciting, freewheeling spirit is replaced by a strict bureaucracy.

So, how do you apply this wisdom? If you're part of a movement or an organization, stay vigilant about keeping the spirit of the original goals alive. Always question whether the systems and structures being built are truly serving the core mission. If you’re a leader, foster an environment where innovation can coexist with necessary structure. Encourage feedback, remain open to change, and don’t let the original ideals get buried under layers of bureaucracy.

Picture this: A group of friends decides to start a community garden in their neighborhood. In the beginning, it’s all hands on deck. Everyone pitches in, plants seeds, waters the plants, and shares the harvest. But as the garden grows, so does the need for organization. They create schedules for watering, a committee for decisions, and rules about who can pick what and when. Over time, some members feel that the garden isn’t as fun and free as it used to be. They miss the spontaneous joy of just digging in the dirt and seeing what happens. The garden committee, now bogged down in rules, forgets the original goal: a community space to enjoy and share.

That’s the heart of it — revolutions or new ventures can easily lose their spark. It’s a cycle that repeats, but by being aware of it, maybe we can keep a bit of that initial magic alive. Always remind yourself why you started in the first place. Keep questioning, keep pushing, and don’t let the dream get drowned in the details.