He objected, though, to indiscriminate reading. ‘One must have some question,’ he wrote, ’addressed to the book one is going to read.
War is the usual condition of Europe.
The State is only one of the forms assumed by society in the course of history. Why then make no distinction between what is permanent and what is accidental?
A national movement, which does not include in its platform the demand for an economical change advantageous to the masses has no chance of success unless supported by foreign aid.
While in the course of ages the nucleus of social custom inscribed in law has been subjected to but slight and gradual modifications, the other portion has been largely developed in directions indicated by the interests of the dominant classes, and to the injury of the classes they oppress.
Educated men – “civilized,” as Fourier used to say with disdain – tremble at the idea that society might some day be without judges, police, or gaolers.
We take men for what they are worth – and that is why we hate the government of man by man, and that we work with all our might – perhaps not strong enough – to put an end to it.
It is often said that Anarchists live in a world of dreams to come, and do not see the things which happen today. We do see them only too well, and in their true colors, and that is what makes us carry the hatchet into the forest of prejudice that besets us.
The two great movements of our century – towards Liberty of the individual and social co-operation of the whole community – are summed up in Anarchist-Communism.
It is only by the abolition of the State, by the conquest of perfect liberty by the individual, by free agreement, association, and absolute free federation that we can reach Communism – the possession in common of our social inheritance, and the production in common of all riches.
The moral sense is a natural faculty in us like the sense of smell or of touch.
Lenin is not comparable to any revolutionary figure in history. Revolutionaries have had ideals. Lenin has none.
Revolutions, we must remember, are always made by minorities.
You reason like the king, who, being sent across the frontier, called out, ‘What will become of my poor subjects without me?’
Struggle so that all may live this rich, overflowing life. And be sure that in this struggle you will find a joy greater than anything else can give.
The law is an adroit mixture of customs that are beneficial to society, and could be followed even if no law existed, and others that are of advantage to a ruling minority, but harmful to the masses of men, and can be enforced on them only by terror.
Of all parties I now see only one party- The Anarchist- which respects human life, and loudly insists upon the abolition of capital punishment, prison torture and punishment of man by man altogether.
All this we see, and, therefore, instead of inanely repeating the old formula, Respect the law, we say, Despise law and all its Attributes! In place of the cowardly phrase, Obey the law, our cry, is Revolt against all laws!
Idlers do not make history: they suffer it!
If you want to know the people of a nation, I am sure you can judge a great deal more about them from their cooking and eating traditions than you can from the words and actions of their public officials.