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Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism QUOTES

Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism QUOTES

1 " The continued appeal of anarchism can probably be attributed to its enduring affinity with both the rational and emotional impulses lying deep within us. It is an attitude, a way of life as well as a social philosophy. It presents a telling analysis of existing institutions and practices, and at the same time offers the prospect of a radically transformed society. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

2 " With their concern for personal autonomy and individual freedom, anarchists more than any other socialists are aware of the inhumanity of both physical punishment and manipulative cure for anti-social members of the community. They look to reasoned argument and friendly treatment to deal with criminals and wish to respect their humanity and individuality. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

3 " Whatever its future success as a historical movement, anarchism will remain a fundamental part of human experience, for the drive for freedom is one of our deepest needs and the vision of a free society is one of our oldest dreams. Neither can ever be fully repressed; both will outlive all rulers and their States. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

4 " Left to themselves, humans have always managed their own affairs creatively and well. Indeed, for most of human evolution and history people have lived peaceful, co-operative lives without rulers, leaders, politicians, soldiers, policemen and taxmen. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

5 " Fear of the people is the sickness of all those who belong to authority; the people, for those in power, are the enemy.’33 "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

6 " Just as man seeks justice in equality, society seeks order in anarchy.’3 "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

7 " Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or many. MAX STIRNER "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

8 " That government is best which governs not at all.
HENRY THOREAU "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

9 " Theodore Roosevelt declared at the end of the nineteenth century: ‘Anarchism is a crime against the whole human race and all mankind should band against anarchists. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

10 " Society is eternal motion; it does not have to be wound up; and it is not necessary to beat time for it. It carries its own pendulum and its ever-wound-up spring within it. An organized society needs laws as little as legislators. Laws are to society what cobwebs are to a beehive; they only serve to catch the bees. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

11 " Anarchists agree with Locke that humanity has always lived in society but argue that government simply exasperates potential social conflict rather than offering a cure for it. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

12 " Liberty, as Proudhon observed, is the mother, not the daughter of order. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

13 " The State did not appear until about 5500 years ago in Egypt. While great empires like those of the Chinese and Romans ebbed and flowed, with no clear boundaries on their outer limits, most of the world’s population continued to live in clans or tribes. Their conduct was regulated by customs and taboos; they had no laws, political administration, courts, or police to maintain order and cohesion. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

14 " The State emerged with economic inequality. It was only when a society was able to produce a surplus which could be appropriated by a few that private property and class relations developed. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

15 " Just as man seeks justice in equality, society seeks order in anarchy.’3 He "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

16 " To be governed is to be watched over, inspected, spied on, directed, legislated, regimented, closed in, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, assessed, evaluated, censored, commanded; all by creatures that have neither the right, nor wisdom, nor virtue … To be governed means that at every move, operation, or transaction one is noted, registered, entered in a census, taxed, stamped, priced, assessed, patented, licensed, authorized, recommended, admonished, prevented, reformed, set right, corrected. Government means to be subjected to tribute, trained, ransomed, exploited, monopolized, extorted, pressured, mystified, robbed; all in the name of public utility and the general good. Then, at the first sign of resistance or word of complaint, one is repressed, fined, despised, vexed, pursued, hustled, beaten up, garroted, imprisoned, shot, machine-gunned, judged, sentenced, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed, and to cap it all, ridiculed, mocked, outraged, and dishonoured. That is government, that is its justice and its morality! "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

17 " Man seeks freedom as the magnet seeks the pole or water its level, and society can have "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

18 " The State with its coercive apparatus of law, courts, prisons and army came to be seen not as the remedy for but rather the principal cause of social disorder. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

19 " general, I define an anarchist as one who rejects all forms of external government and the State and believes that society and individuals would function well without them. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

20 " A study of anarchism will show that the drive for freedom is not only a central part of our collective experience but responds to a deeply felt human need. Freedom is necessary for original thought and creativity. It is also a natural desire for we can see that no animal likes to be caged and all conscious beings enjoy the free satisfaction of their desires. Anarchism further seeks in social life what appears to operate in nature: the call for self-management in society mirrors the self-regulation and self-organization of nature itself. "

― , Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism