--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be an anarchist only means that you…" description: "\"To be an anarchist only means that you believe that aggression is not justified, and that states necessarily employ aggression. And, therefore, that st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/stephan-kinsella-33542_aggression_to-be-an-anarchist-only-means-that-you-b_1217299.png" --- # To be an anarchist only means that you believe that… ![“To be an anarchist only means that you believe that aggression is not justified, and that states necessarily employ aggression. And, therefore, that states, and the aggression they necessarily employ, are unjustified. It's quite simple, really. It's an ethical view, so no surprise it confuses…” quote by Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/stephan-kinsella-33542_aggression_to-be-an-anarchist-only-means-that-you-b_1217299.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/stephan-kinsella-33542_aggression_to-be-an-anarchist-only-means-that-you-b_1217299.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/stephan-kinsella-33542_aggression_to-be-an-anarchist-only-means-that-you-b_1217299.png) > “To be an anarchist only means that you believe that aggression is not justified, and that states necessarily employ aggression. And, therefore, that states, and the aggression they necessarily employ, are unjustified. It's quite simple, really. It's an ethical view, so no surprise it confuses utilitarians.” [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anarchism opposes state violence, viewing it as inherently unjust, and sees aggression only as legitimate when self‑defense. **In simple terms:** Anarchists reject state aggression as immoral. Key Takeaway Reject state violence; support non‑aggression. Themes politics ethics state power non‑violence Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - activism - policy debate - civil disobedience - community organizing Key Concepts Anarchism ethical theory political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Can a society function without any coercive authority? - What alternatives exist to enforce rights without a state? A Different Perspective State coercion may be necessary for public safety in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) [Anarchism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchism/) [Anarchist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchist/) [Anarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [“To be an anarchist only means that you believe that aggression is not justified, and that states necessarily employ aggression. And, therefore, that states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-an-anarchist-only-means-that-you-believe-that-aggression-is-not-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As I explain in 'What It Means to be an Anarcho-Capitalist', to be an anarchist simply means you oppose aggression, and you realize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-stephan-kinsella/as-i-explain-in-what-it-means-to-be-an-anarcho-capitalist-to-be-an/) N. Stephan Kinsella > [I would lay down my life to defend any one of the States from aggression, which endangered peace or threatened its institutions. I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-would-lay-down-my-life-to-defend-any-one-of-the-states-from/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Obama is playing to the lowest common denominator of everybody, and he is telling them that if anybody's got more money than you do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/obama-is-playing-to-the-lowest-common-denominator-of-everybody-and-he/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [At the present day the crude theory of the sexual impulse held on one side, and the ignorant rejection of theory altogether on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/at-the-present-day-the-crude-theory-of-the-sexual-impulse-held-on-one/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-fear-of-death-is-the-most-unjustified-of-all-fears-for-there-s-no/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [When we find unjustified spikes in the prices of long-standing life-saving drugs, we should slap penalties on companies trying to cheat people who need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-we-find-unjustified-spikes-in-the-prices-of-long-standing-life/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Most writers write haphazardly. The actor is fighting unjustified words all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/most-writers-write-haphazardly-the-actor-is-fighting-unjustified/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [“If the tradition which claims that war may be justified does not also admit that it could be unjustified, the affirmation is not morally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-tradition-which-claims-that-war-may-be-justified-does-not-also/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“By contrast, the most monstrous crimes against humanity have invariably been inspired by unjustified belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/by-contrast-the-most-monstrous-crimes-against-humanity-have/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [For those who fancy that government's projects are uniquely important, or for those who imagine that holding government office makes someone unusually saintly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-boudreaux/for-those-who-fancy-that-government-s-projects-are-uniquely-important/) [Donald J. Boudreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-boudreaux/) > [Men rarely see their own actions as unjustified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/men-rarely-see-their-own-actions-as-unjustified/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Bold ideas, unjustified anticipations, and speculative thought, are our only means for interpreting nature: our only organon, our only instrument, for grasping her. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/bold-ideas-unjustified-anticipations-and-speculative-thought-are-our/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [The British suffer from a most unfortunate superiority complex - unjustified even under Victoria and most certainly hopelessly out-of-date today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-suffer-from-a-most-unfortunate-superiority-complex/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) ## More by Stephan Kinsella > [Because the state necessarily commits aggression, the consistent libertarian, in opposing aggression, is also an anarchist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/because-the-state-necessarily-commits-aggression-the-consistent/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [I was always interested in science, truth, goodness and fairness. I have always been strongly individualistic and merit-oriented. This is probably because I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/i-was-always-interested-in-science-truth-goodness-and-fairness-i-have/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [The libertarian view is that human actors are self-owners and these self-owners are capable of appropriating unowned scarce resources by Lockean homesteading − some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-libertarian-view-is-that-human-actors-are-self-owners-and-these/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [The roots of copyright lie in censorship. It was easy for state and church to control thought by controlling the scribes, but then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-roots-of-copyright-lie-in-censorship-it-was-easy-for-state-and/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [The basis of self-ownership is the fact that each person has direct control over the scarce resource of his body and therefore has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-basis-of-self-ownership-is-the-fact-that-each-person-has-direct/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [Artists are just entrepreneurs. It's up to them to figure out how or if they can make a monetary profit from their passion −…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/artists-are-just-entrepreneurs-it-s-up-to-them-to-figure-out-how-or/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [We’re against the state, not government. The state just happens to monopolize the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/we-re-against-the-state-not-government-the-state-just-happens-to/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [The libertarian approach is a very symmetrical one: the non-aggression principle does not rule out force, but only the initiation of force. In other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-libertarian-approach-is-a-very-symmetrical-one-the-non-aggression/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [There are any number of models artists can use to profit off of their talent and artistry. It is not up to the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/there-are-any-number-of-models-artists-can-use-to-profit-off-of-their/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [The Austrian theory of subjective value teaches us that there are many ways to incentivize or motivate or induce someone to commit an action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value-teaches-us-that-there-are/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [We must recognize that only scarce resources are ownable; second, that the body is a type of scarce resource; third, that the mode of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/we-must-recognize-that-only-scarce-resources-are-ownable-second-that/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [In a market economy with the division and specialization of labor, people use others as means to achieve their ends. This is the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/in-a-market-economy-with-the-division-and-specialization-of-labor/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) > [My basic approach is to recognize that mainstream legal theories of contract have been muddied by unlibertarian and positivistic conceptions of law and rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/my-basic-approach-is-to-recognize-that-mainstream-legal-theories-of/) [Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) [Explore all 14 Stephan Kinsella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/) ## More Aggression quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [We have nothing in our history or position to invite aggression; we have everything to beckon us to the cultivation of relations of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-nothing-in-our-history-or-position-to-invite-aggression-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/i-take-up-the-standpoint-that-the-tendency-to-aggression-is-an-innate/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/a-society-that-presumes-a-norm-of-violence-and-celebrates-aggression/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [I can remember watching MTV Cribs - these amazing houses - and looking around my house where there was no carpet on the floors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/i-can-remember-watching-mtv-cribs-these-amazing-houses-and-looking/) [Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I really like battle ropes. They're so versatile; you can get a terrific workout doing a ton of different exercises with them. My clients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-really-like-battle-ropes-they-re-so-versatile-you-can-get-a/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) Empress Dowager Cixi > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [This is passive-aggression in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-passive-aggression-in-action/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Browse all 860 Aggression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be an anarchist only means that you believe that aggression is not justified, and that states necessarily employ aggression. And, therefore, that states, and the aggression they necessarily employ, are unjustified. 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