Intolerance Of Oppression, The Desire To Be

While Preaching Against Every Kind Of Government, And Demanding Complete Freedom, We Must Support All Struggles For Partial Freedom, Because We Are Convinced That One Learns Through Struggle.

Anarchists Are Opposed To Violence; Everyone Knows That. The Main Plank Of Anarchism Is The Removal Of Violence From Human Relations. It Is Life Based On Freedom Of The Individual, Without The Intervention Of The Gendarme. For This Reason We Are The Enemies Of Capitalism Which Depends On The Protection Of The Gendarme To Oblige Workers To Allow Themselves To Be Exploited--or Even To Remain Idle And Go Hungry When It Is Not In The Interest Of The Bosses To Exploit Them. We Are Therefore Enemies Of The State Which Is The Coercive Violent Organization Of Society.

If You Say That You Reject Violence When It Exceeds The Limits Imposed By The Needs Of Defense, They Accuse You Of Pacifism, Without Understanding That Violence Is The Whole Essence Of Authoritarianism, Just As The Repudiation Of Violence Is The Whole Essence Of Anarchism.

Organisation, Far From Creating Authority, Is The Only Cure For It And The Only Means Whereby Each Of Us Will Get Used To Taking An Active And Conscious Part In Collective Work, And Cease Being Passive Instruments In The Hands Of Leaders.

The Question May Seem Embarrassing, But It Can Be Answered In A Few Words. For Two People To Live In Peace They Must Both Want Peace; If One Of Them Insists On Using Force To Oblige The Other To Work For Him And Serve Him, Then The Other, If He Wishes To Retain His Dignity As A Man And Not Be Reduced To Abject Slavery, Will Be Obliged In Spite Of His Love Of Peace, To Resist Force With Adequate Means.