"As the word "anarchy" etymologically signifies the negation of governmental authority, the absence of government, it follows that one indissoluble bond unites the anarchists. This is antagonism to all situations regulated by imposition, constraint, violence, governmental oppression, whether these are a product of all, a group, or of one person. In short, whoever denies that the intervention of government is for human relationships is an anarchist. But this definition would have only a negative value did it not possess, as a practical complement, a conscious attempt to live outside this domination and servility which are incompatible with the anarchist conception. An anarchist, therefore, is an individual who, whether he has been brought to it by a process of reasoning or by sentiment, lives to the greatest possible extent in a state of legitimate defence against authoritarian encroachments. From this it follows that anarchist individualism — the tendency which we believe contains the most profound realization of the anarchist idea — is not merely a philosophical doctrine — it is an attitude, an individual way of life."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Emile Armand, in Anarchist Individualism as Life and Activity (1907)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anarchism
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Anarchism
252 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Anarchism →
Related Quotes
"Most of all, anarchism is just a matter of having the courage to take the simple principles of common decency that we…"
"Anarchism appears to be the only form of that speaks to the times and people's dreams."
"Anarchism is that political philosophy which advocates the maximization of individual responsibility and the reductio…"
"Anarchists work towards a society of mutual aid and voluntary co-operation. We reject all government and economic rep…"
"The ideally non-violent state will be an ordered anarchy. That State is the best governed which is governed the least."
"Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise en…"
"Anarchism is not a romantic fable but the hardheaded realization, based on five thousand years of experience, that we…"
"Anarchism...rests upon the doctrine that no man has a right to control by force the action of any other man. Anarchis…"
"What does it say about you, if you allow someone to set themselves up as your leader and make all your decisions for …"
"We started off trying to set up a small anarchist community, but people wouldn't obey the rules."