Voltairine de Cleyre Quotes About Liberty

Quotes about: Liberty

• 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

  Father, Believe, Rights

  Voltairine de Cleyre (2012). “Exquisite Rebel: The Essays of Voltairine de Cleyre -- Anarchist, Feminist, Genius”, p.99, SUNY Press

• 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

  Mean, Law, Abuse

  Voltairine de Cleyre (2012). “Exquisite Rebel: The Essays of Voltairine de Cleyre -- Anarchist, Feminist, Genius”, p.99, SUNY Press

• 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

  Teaching, Government, People

  Voltairine de Cleyre (2012). “Exquisite Rebel: The Essays of Voltairine de Cleyre -- Anarchist, Feminist, Genius”, p.96, SUNY Press

• A standing army is a standing menace to liberty.

  Voltairine de Cleyre

  Peace, War, Army

  Voltairine de Cleyre (2012). “Exquisite Rebel: The Essays of Voltairine de Cleyre -- Anarchist, Feminist, Genius”, p.98, SUNY Press

• 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

  Liberty, Remember, Speak

• I never expect men to give us liberty. No, women, we are not worth it until we take it.

  Voltairine de Cleyre

  Men, Giving, Liberty

  Eugenia C. DeLamotte, Voltairine De Cleyre (2004). “Gates of Freedom: Voltairine de Cleyre and the Revolution of the Mind”, p.249, University of Michigan Press

• If you choose the liberty and pride and strength of the single soul, and the free fraternization of men, as the purpose which your life is to make manifest then do not sell it for tinsel. Think that your soul is strong and will hold its way; and slowly, through bitter struggle perhaps the strength will grow.

  Voltairine de Cleyre

  Strong, Struggle, Pride

  Voltairine de Cleyre (2012). “Exquisite Rebel: The Essays of Voltairine de Cleyre -- Anarchist, Feminist, Genius”, p.122, SUNY Press

• The revolution is ... the blow dealt ... agains the counter force of tyranny, which has never entirely recovered from the blow, but which from then till now has gone on remolding and regrappling the instruments of governmental power, that the Revolution sought to shape and hold as defenses of liberty.

  Voltairine de Cleyre

  Blow, Liberty, Revolution

  Voltairine De Cleyre (1989). “Anarchism and American Traditions”, p.3, Library of Alexandria

• A man won't steal, ordinarily, unless that which he steals is something he cannot as easily get without stealing; in liberty the cost of stealing would involve greater difficulties than producing, and consequently he would not be apt to steal.

  Voltairine de Cleyre

  Men, Liberty, Cost

  "The Economic Tendency of Freethought". Liberty, Volume XI, #25, praxeology.net. February 15, 1890.

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