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As to the American tradition of non-meddling, Anarchism asks that it be carried down to the individual himself. It demands no jealous barrier of isolation; it knows that such isolation is undesirable and impossible; but it teaches that by all men's strictly minding their own business, a fluid society, freely adapting itself to mutual needs, wherein all the world shall belong to all men, as much as each has need or desire, will result. And when Modern Revolution has thus been carried to the heart of the whole world - if it ever shall be, as I hope it will - then may we hope to see a resurrection of that proud spirit of our fathers which put the simple dignity of Man above the gauds of wealth and class, and held that to be an American was greater than to be a king. In that day there shall be neither kings nor Americans - only Men ; over the whole earth, MEN.

Voltairine de Cleyre#38

FreedomSocietyAnarchismIndividualism

About this quote

What does it mean?
Anarchism advocates individual self-restraint to create a fluid society where everyone belongs.
In plain terms
Mind your own business to build a society where everyone belongs.
What can you take from it?
Individual responsibility leads to collective freedom.

Where it applies

  • social restructuring

Putting it to work

  • practice mutual aid

Questions to consider

  • How does self-restraint build society?

Another view

Self-restraint alone may not solve systemic inequality.

More from Voltairine de Cleyre

  1. 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, t…

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  2. In everything that lives, if one looks searchingly, is limned the shadow line of an idea - an idea, dead or living, sometimes stronger when dead, with rigid, u…

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  3. It is an American tradition that a standing army is a standing menace to liberty; in Jefferson's presidency the army was reduced to 3,000 men. It is American t…

    Permalink to quote #36

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