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Quote#Politics & Power

What I say is, that the real non-resistants can believe in direct…

Quote byVoltairine de Cleyre · 1866–1912

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Direct Action (1912).

English (original)

What I say is, that the real non-resistants can believe in direct action only, never in political action. For the basis of all political action is coercion; even when the State does good things, it finally rests on a club, a gun, or a prison, for its power to carry them through.

— Voltairine de Cleyre

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