--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intolerance of oppression, the desire to…" description: "\"Intolerance of oppression, the desire to be free and develop one personality to its full limits, is not enough to make one an anarchist. That aspiratio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/errico-malatesta-20817_anarchism_intolerance-of-oppression-the-desire-to_2074429.png" --- # Intolerance of oppression, the desire to be free and… ![“Intolerance of oppression, the desire to be free and develop one personality to its full limits, is not enough to make one an anarchist. That aspiration towards unlimited freedom, if not tempered by a love for mankind and by the desire that all should enjoy equal freedom, may well create rebels…” quote by Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/errico-malatesta-20817_anarchism_intolerance-of-oppression-the-desire-to_2074429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/errico-malatesta-20817_anarchism_intolerance-of-oppression-the-desire-to_2074429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/errico-malatesta-20817_anarchism_intolerance-of-oppression-the-desire-to_2074429.png) > “Intolerance of oppression, the desire to be free and develop one personality to its full limits, is not enough to make one an anarchist. That aspiration towards unlimited freedom, if not tempered by a love for mankind and by the desire that all should enjoy equal freedom, may well create rebels who soon become exploiters and tyrants.” [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom alone isn’t sufficient for anarchism; it must be paired with love for humanity and equality to avoid tyranny. **In simple terms:** Freedom needs love and equality to prevent tyranny. Key Takeaway Balance liberty with compassion and equality. Themes anarchism freedom equality ethics Mood thoughtful critical hopeful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - policy advocacy - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts political philosophy humanism social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure freedom benefits all? - What practices nurture love for humanity? A Different Perspective If love and equality are absent, freedom can become oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anarchism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchism/) [Anarchist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchist/) [Anarchist Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchist-aspiration-4019965/) [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Intolerance Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance-oppression-4019967/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Make Anarchist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-anarchist-4019966/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Oppression Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression-desire-4019968/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Rebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebel/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Unlimited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to make an anarchist film, make it with a corporation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zal-batmanglij/if-you-want-to-make-an-anarchist-film-make-it-with-a-corporation/) [Zal Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zal-batmanglij/) > [In the anarchist milieu, communism, individualism, collectivism, mutualism and all the intermediate and eclectic programmes are simply the ways considered best for achieving freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/in-the-anarchist-milieu-communism-individualism-collectivism/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [We anarchists do not want to emancipate the people; we want the people to emancipate themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/we-anarchists-do-not-want-to-emancipate-the-people-we-want-the-people/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [Anarchists are opposed to violence; everyone knows that. The main plank of anarchism is the removal of violence from human relations. It is life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/anarchists-are-opposed-to-violence-everyone-knows-that-the-main-plank/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [Anarchists generally make use if the word "State" to mean all the collection of institutions, political, legislative, judicial, military, financial, etc., by means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/anarchists-generally-make-use-if-the-word-state-to-mean-all-the/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [“To be an anarchist is to leave the beaten paths on which for hundreds of years generations of sheep have walked without reflection, break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-merriman/to-be-an-anarchist-is-to-leave-the-beaten-paths-on-which-for-hundreds/) [John Merriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-merriman/) > [The education we all receive from the State, at school and after, has so warped our minds that the very notion of freedom ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kropotkin/the-education-we-all-receive-from-the-state-at-school-and-after-has/) [Peter Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kropotkin/) > [ The most important thing \[anarchists\] can do is educate themselves, develop a propaganda machinery in the form of books and periodicals, a literature, engage… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/the-most-important-thing-anarchists-can-do-is-educate-themselves/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [In debates between anarchists and statists, the burden of proof clearly should rest on those who place their trust in the state. Anarchy's mayhem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/in-debates-between-anarchists-and-statists-the-burden-of-proof/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [You see something very important is happening. Personality is being eaten out, and with that the idealism that always motivated an anarchist movement -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/you-see-something-very-important-is-happening-personality-is-being/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [“I became an anarchist very early on. Anarchism, in my mind, meant taking democracy seriously and organizing prefiguratively- that is, in a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrej-gruba-i/i-became-an-anarchist-very-early-on-anarchism-in-my-mind-meant-taking/) [Andrej Grubačić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrej-gruba-i/) > [We must therefore turn to history for enlightenment; here we find that none of the proclaimed anarchist groups correspond to the libertarian position, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/we-must-therefore-turn-to-history-for-enlightenment-here-we-find-that/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [The Anarchists are simply unterrified Jeffersonian Democrats. They believe that 'the best government is that which governs least,' and that which governs least is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-anarchists-are-simply-unterrified-jeffersonian-democrats-they/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Anarchism is a definite intellectual current in the life of our times, whose adherents advocate the abolition of economic monopolies and of all political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/anarchism-is-a-definite-intellectual-current-in-the-life-of-our-times/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) ## More by Errico Malatesta > [The only limit to the oppression of government is the power with which the people show themselves capable of opposing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/the-only-limit-to-the-oppression-of-government-is-the-power-with/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [Anarchists are opposed to violence; everyone knows that. The main plank of anarchism is the removal of violence from human relations. It is life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/anarchists-are-opposed-to-violence-everyone-knows-that-the-main-plank/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [The question may seem embarrassing, but it can be answered in a few words. For two people to live in peace they must both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/the-question-may-seem-embarrassing-but-it-can-be-answered-in-a-few/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [The basic function of the government everywhere in all times, whatever title it adopts and whatever its origin and organisation may be, is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/the-basic-function-of-the-government-everywhere-in-all-times-whatever/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [“In all times and in all places, whatever may be the name that the government takes, whatever has been its origin, or its organization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/in-all-times-and-in-all-places-whatever-may-be-the-name-that-the/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [“Capitalism is the same everywhere. In order to survive and prosper it needs a permanent situation of partial scarcity: it needs it to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/capitalism-is-the-same-everywhere-in-order-to-survive-and-prosper-it/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [Impossibility never prevented anything from happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/impossibility-never-prevented-anything-from-happening/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [“Communism made through the will of a government instead of through the direct and voluntary work of groups of workers does not really appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/communism-made-through-the-will-of-a-government-instead-of-through/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [Experience through freedom is the only means to arrive at the truth and the best solutions; and there is no freedom if there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/experience-through-freedom-is-the-only-means-to-arrive-at-the-truth/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [We follow ideas and not men, and rebel against this habit of embodying a principle in a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/we-follow-ideas-and-not-men-and-rebel-against-this-habit-of-embodying/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [“The methods from which the different non-anarchist parties expect, or say they do, the greatest good of one and all can be reduced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/the-methods-from-which-the-different-non-anarchist-parties-expect-or/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [And by anarchist spirit I mean that deeply human sentiment, which aims at the good of all, freedom and justice for all, solidarity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/and-by-anarchist-spirit-i-mean-that-deeply-human-sentiment-which-aims/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [If you say that you reject violence when it exceeds the limits imposed by the needs of defense, they accuse you of pacifism, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/if-you-say-that-you-reject-violence-when-it-exceeds-the-limits/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [Not whether we accomplish anarchism today, tomorrow, or within ten centuries, but that we walk towards anarchism today, tomorrow, and always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/not-whether-we-accomplish-anarchism-today-tomorrow-or-within-ten/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [ The person who thinks with \[their\] own brain is to be preferred to the one who blindly approves everything… Better an error consciously committed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/the-person-who-thinks-with-their-own-brain-is-to-be-preferred-to-the/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) [Explore all 27 Errico Malatesta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) ## More Anarchism quotes > [I know one thing: that you can do a lot of things but if you don't educate people into conscious anarchism it gets frittered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-know-one-thing-that-you-can-do-a-lot-of-things-but-if-you-don-t/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [In morals as in politics anarchy is not for the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/in-morals-as-in-politics-anarchy-is-not-for-the-weak/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [Anarchism is a definite intellectual current in the life of our times, whose adherents advocate the abolition of economic monopolies and of all political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/anarchism-is-a-definite-intellectual-current-in-the-life-of-our-times/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Does it follow that I reject all authority? Perish the thought. In the matter of boots, I defer to the authority of the bootmaker;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/does-it-follow-that-i-reject-all-authority-perish-the-thought-in-the/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Anarchism as a political philosophy seeks to dissolve all forms of authority and power, and if possible, wishes their complete abolition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-marshall/anarchism-as-a-political-philosophy-seeks-to-dissolve-all-forms-of/) [Peter Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-marshall/) > [And now, what has Anarchism to say to all this, this bankruptcy of republicanism, this modern empire that has grown up on the ruins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/and-now-what-has-anarchism-to-say-to-all-this-this-bankruptcy-of/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [I see anarchism as the theoretical ideal to which we are all gradually evolving to a point where everybody can tell the truth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/i-see-anarchism-as-the-theoretical-ideal-to-which-we-are-all/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Anarchists are opposed to violence; everyone knows that. The main plank of anarchism is the removal of violence from human relations. It is life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/anarchists-are-opposed-to-violence-everyone-knows-that-the-main-plank/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [“They knew that their anarchism was the product of a very high civilization, of a complex diversified culture, of a stable economy and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/they-knew-that-their-anarchism-was-the-product-of-a-very-high/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Anarchism means voluntary co-operation instead of forced participation. It means harmony and order in place of interference and disorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/anarchism-means-voluntary-co-operation-instead-of-forced/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [The Anarchists are simply unterrified Jeffersonian Democrats. They believe that 'the best government is that which governs least,' and that which governs least is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-anarchists-are-simply-unterrified-jeffersonian-democrats-they/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [We must therefore turn to history for enlightenment; here we find that none of the proclaimed anarchist groups correspond to the libertarian position, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/we-must-therefore-turn-to-history-for-enlightenment-here-we-find-that/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“I became an anarchist very early on. Anarchism, in my mind, meant taking democracy seriously and organizing prefiguratively- that is, in a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrej-gruba-i/i-became-an-anarchist-very-early-on-anarchism-in-my-mind-meant-taking/) [Andrej Grubačić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrej-gruba-i/) [Browse all 388 Anarchism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Intolerance of oppression, the desire to be free and develop one personality to its full limits, is not enough to make one an anarchist. 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