I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.
Mikhail BakuninRead
The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the idea that divine authority can lead to human subjugation.
Mikhail Bakunin suggests that the belief in a higher power, specifically the theological concept of God, enslaves humanity by enforcing obedience and limiting freedom. He argues that the notion of a supreme being as a 'master' constrains people to a life of servitude, preventing them from achieving true autonomy and liberation on Earth.
Themes
FreedomTheologyTyrannyAuthorityAutonomy
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on religious influence in politics, one might quote this to highlight the dangers of theological authority.
More from Mikhail Bakunin
All quotes βWe must overthrow the material and moral conditions of our present-day life. . . . We must first purify our atmosphere and completely transform the milieu in which we live; for it corrupts our instinct and our will, and constricts our heart and our intelligence
Mikhail BakuninRead
The liberty of man consists solely in this, that he obeys the laws of nature because he has himself recognized them as such, and not because they have been imposed upon him externally by any foreign will whatsoever, human or divine, collective or individual.
Mikhail BakuninRead
By striving to do the impossible, man has always achieved what is possible. Those who have cautiously done no more than they believed possible have never taken a single step forward.
Mikhail BakuninRead
By striving to do the impossible, man has always achieved what is possible.
Mikhail BakuninRead
This contradiction lies here: they wish God, and they wish humanity. They persist in connecting two terms which, once separated, can come together again only to destroy each other.
Mikhail BakuninRead
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