"Anarchists generally make use of the word "State" to mean all the collection of institutions, political, legislative, judicial, military, financial, etc., by means of which management of their own affairs, the guidance of their personal conduct, and the care of ensuring their own safety are taken from the people and confided to certain individuals, and these, whether by usurpation or delegation, are invested with the right to make laws over and for all, and to constrain the public to respect them, making use of the collective force of the community to this end."
React to this quote
More by Errico Malatesta
See allResonant Thoughts
"It's no credit to this enormously rich country that there are more oppressive, less decent governments elsewhere. We claim superiority of our institutions. We ought to live up to our own standards, no…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"Obeying an inalienable law, things grew, growing riotous and strange in their impulse for growth."
— Brian Aldiss"I was with Charlton, Law and Puskás, we were coaching in a football academy in Australia. The youngsters we…"
— Ferenc Puskás"The end must justify the means."
— Matthew Prior"There are libertarians who try to retrieve libertarianism from the Libertarian Party just as there are Chri…"
— Bob Black"I think he ought to be worried about what's going on in the Good Lord's mind, because if there is retributi…"
— Nina Totenberg"It's no more daunting in there than in a Georgian drawing room. You sit on a supremely comfortable chair- i…"
— Jeremy Clarkson