Historically, the most terrible things – war, genocide, and slavery – have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience.
If there is going to be change, real change, it will have to work its way from the bottom up, from the people themselves. That’s how change happens.
To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
It’s a strange thing, we think that law brings order. Law doesn’t. How do we know that law does not bring order? Look around us. We live under the rule of law. Notice how much order we have?
Pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; it reproduces itself by crippling our willingness to act.
The strike, the boycott, the refusal to serve, the ability to paralyze the functioning of a complex social structure-these remain potent weapons against the most fearsome state or corporate power.
They have the guns, we have the poets. Therefore, we will win.
One certain effect of war is to diminish freedom of expression. Patriotism becomes the order of the day, and those who question the war are seen as traitors, to be silenced and imprisoned.
History is important. If you don’t know history it is as if you were born yesterday. And if you were born yesterday, anybody up there in a position of power can tell you anything, and you have no way of checking up on it.
The memory of oppressed people is one thing that cannot be taken away, and for such people, with such memories, revolt is always an inch below the surface.
Any humane and reasonable person must conclude that if the ends, however desireable, are uncertain and the means are horrible and certain, these means must not be employed.
One of the problems with dealing with anarchism is that there are many people whose ideas are anarchist, but who do not necessarily call themselves anarchists.
One certain effect of war is to diminish freedom of expression.
Most wars, after all, present themselves as humanitarian endeavors to help people.
Education becomes most rich and alive when it confronts the reality of moral conflict in the world.
People should go where they are not supposed to go, say what they are not supposed to say, and stay when they are told to leave.
You can’t be neutral on a moving train.
But human beings are not machines, and however powerful the pressure to conform, they sometimes are so moved by what they see as injustice that they dare to declare their independence. In that historical possibility lies hope.
I have no regrets about my political activity, only that I sometimes got carried away with it and didn’t find the right balance between obligations to my family and my need to be involved in social movements.
In war, good guys always become bad guys.