The liberty of man consists solely in this: that he obeys natural laws because he has himself recognized them as such, and not because they have been externally imposed upon him by any extrinsic will whatever, divine or human, collective or individual.
Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) Russian anarchist, political theorist
God and the State (1871 (pub 1916))
Freedom, morality, and the human dignity of the individual consists precisely in this; that he does good not because he is forced to do so, but because he freely conceives it, wants it, and loves it.
Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) Russian anarchist, political theorist
God and the State (1871 (pub 1916))
The freedom of all is essential to my freedom.
Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) Russian anarchist, political theorist
The Political Philosophy of Bakunin: Scientific Anarchism, 3.13 (1871) [ed. Maximoff (1953)]
Respect for the freedom of others is the highest duty of man. To love this freedom and to serve it — such is the only virtue. That is the basis of all morality, and there can be no other.
Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) Russian anarchist, political theorist
The Political Philosophy of Bakunin: Scientific Anarchism, 3.3 [ed. G. P. Maxmoff] (1953)
WIST is my personal and ever-growing collection of quotations. Please feel free to browse. More info and contact information is available under "About WIST."
Recent Feedback