A right , in the abstract, is a fact ; it is not a thing to be given, established, or conferred; it is. Of the exercise of a right power may deprive me; of the right itself, never. Voltairine de Cleyre More Quotes by Voltairine de Cleyre More Quotes From Voltairine de Cleyre Anarchism, to me, means not only the denial of authority, not only a new economy, but a revision of the principles of morality. It means the development of the individual as well as the assertion of the individual. It means self-responsibility, and not leader worship. Voltairine de Cleyre responsibilityselfmean This is what the government is, has always been, the creator and defender of privilege; the organization of oppression and revenge. To hope that it can ever become anything else is the vainest of delusions. They tell you that Anarchy, the dream of social order without government, is a wild fancy. The wildest dream that ever entered the heart of man is the dream that mankind can ever help itself through an appeal to law, or to come to any order that will not result in slavery wherein there is any excuse for government. Voltairine de Cleyre revengedreamheart There is no peace now, and there will never be peace, so long as one rules over another. Voltairine de Cleyre anarchylong I never expect men to give us liberty. No, women, we are not worth it until we take it. Voltairine de Cleyre libertygivingmen And now, what has Anarchism to say to all this, this bankruptcy of republicanism, this modern empire that has grown up on the ruins of our early freedom? We say this, that the sin our fathers sinned was that they did not trust liberty wholly. They thought it possible to compromise between liberty and government, believing the latter to be 'a necessary evil,' and the moment the compromise was made, the whole misbegotten monster of our present tyranny began to grow. Instruments which are set up to safeguard rights become the very whip with which the free are struck. Voltairine de Cleyre rightsbelievefather Let every woman ask herself: "Why am I the slave of man? Why is my brain said not to be the equal of his brain? Why is my work notpaid equally with his? Why must my body be controlled by my husband? Why may he take my labor in the household, giving me in exchange what he deems fit? Why may he take my children from me? Will them away while yet unborn?" Let every woman ask. Voltairine de Cleyre husbandmenchildren I die, as I have lived, a free spirit, an Anarchist, owing no allegiance to rulers, heavenly or earthly. Voltairine de Cleyre free-spiritatheismatheist Speak, speak, speak, & remember that whenever anyone's liberty to speak is denied, your liberty is denied also, & your place is where the attack is. Voltairine de Cleyre libertyspeakremember Make no laws whatever concerning speech, and speech will be free; so soon as you make a declaration on paper that speech shall be free, you will have a hundred lawyers proving that "freedom does not mean abuse, nor liberty license," and they will define freedom out of existence. Voltairine de Cleyre abuselawmean I think it can be shown that the law makes ten criminals where it restrains one. Voltairine de Cleyre criminalslawthinking If the believers in liberty wish the principles of liberty taught, let them never intrust that instruction to any government; for the nature of government is to become a thing apart, an institution existing for its own sake, preying upon the people, and teaching whatever will tend to keep it secure in its seat. Voltairine de Cleyre governmentteachingpeople [The married woman is] is a bonded slave, who takes her master's name, her master's bread, and serves her master's passion; [and] who passes through the ordeal of pregnancy and the throes of travail at his dictation. Voltairine de Cleyre passionnamespregnancy A standing army is a standing menace to liberty. Voltairine de Cleyre armywarpeace Government is as unreal, as intangible, as unapproachable as God. Try it, if you don't believe it. Seek through the legislative halls of America and find, if you can, the Government. In the end you will be doomed to confer with the agent, as before. Voltairine de Cleyre governmentbelieveamerica And sometimes when I am weary, Voltairine de Cleyre beautifulsweetlife What I say is, that the real non-resistants can believe in direct action only, never in political action. For the basis of all political action is coercion; even when the State does good things, it finally rests on a club, a gun, or a prison, for its power to carry them through. Voltairine de Cleyre gunrealbelieve There is no society for the prevention of cruelty to women. Voltairine de Cleyre crueltyprevention The question of souls is old—we demand our bodies, now. We are tired of promises, god is deaf, and his church is our worst enemy. Voltairine de Cleyre worst-enemytiredsoul ... it is better to study how to live rather than how to die; ... it is better to have a religion of deeds rather than a religion of creeds; ... it is better to work for humanity than for God. Voltairine de Cleyre studydeedshumanity As long as the working-people fold hands and pray the gods in Washington to give them work, so long they will not get it. Voltairine de Cleyre givinglonghands
