Anarchist Quote by Leo Tolstoy
“Understand then all of you, especially the young, that to want to impose an imaginary state of government on others by violence is not only a vulgar superstition, but even a criminal work. Understand that this work, far from assuring the well-being of humanity is only a lie, a more or less unconscious hypocrisy, camouflaging the lowest passions we posses.”
About This Quote
Source Book: War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy, 1869
Violence used to impose government is a baseless superstition and criminal act that hides humanity's lowest impulses rather than improving welfare.
In simple terms: Violence for power is a lie and crime.
Key Takeaway
Reject violent authority; seek ethical governance.
Themes
politics
ethics
violence
power
hypocrisy
Mood
critical
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- activism
- political reform
- education
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
social contract
moral philosophy
state legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- Can peaceful change truly replace violent power?
- What moral responsibilities do citizens have?
A Different Perspective
Violent revolutions often cause more harm than the regimes they replace.
![“[On an anarchist acquaintance:] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish.” quote by Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae9/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_acquaintance_on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything_72515.jpg)
