Benjamin Tucker Quotes

1854–1939 United States

Benjamin Ricketson Tucker (17 April 1854 – 22 June 1939) was a journalist, socialist, and the leading proponent of American individualist anarchism in the 19th century.

United States
Activists
Anarchists
Editors
Journalists

Also known as: Benj. R. Tucker, Benjamin R. Tucker, Tucker, Benjamin

Random Benjamin Tucker quote

35 quotes

Education is a slow process, and may not come too quickly. Anarchists who endeavor to hasten it by joining in the propaganda of State Socialism or revolution make a sad mistake indeed.

As a general rule, the better people are, the more Anarchists and Socialists will be found among them.

Individual Liberty (1926)

The Anarchists believe in civil society; only they insist that the freedom of civil society shall be complete instead of partial.

Individual Liberty (1926)

Voluntary taxation, far from impairing the "State's" credit, would strengthen it.

Individual Liberty (1926)

There would be but one article in the constitution of a State Socialistic country: “The right of the majority is absolute.”

State Socialism and Anarchism: How Far They Agree, and Wherin They Differ (1888)

But he would only be allowed it; he could not claim it as his own.

State Socialism and Anarchism: How Far They Agree, and Wherin They Differ (1888)

The Anarchists never have claimed that liberty will bring perfection; they simply say that its results are vastly preferable to those that follow authority.

Individual Liberty (1926)

The idea that Anarchy can be inaugurated by force is as fallacious as the idea that it can be sustained by force. Force cannot preserve Anarchy; neither can it bring it.

Individual Liberty (1926)

Monopoly and privilege must be destroyed, opportunity afforded, and competition encouraged. This is Liberty's work, and "Down with Authority" her war-cry.

Libertys Declaration of Purpose (1881)

The Anarchists believe in the family; they only insist that free competition and experiment shall always be allowed in order that it may be determined what form of family best secures this object.

Individual Liberty (1926)

What other applications this principle of Authority, once adopted in the economic sphere, will develop is very evident. It means the absolute control by the majority of all individual conduct.

State Socialism and Anarchism: How Far They Agree, and Wherin They Differ (1888)

Anarchism … may be described as the doctrine that all the affairs of men should be managed by individuals or voluntary associations, and that the State should be abolished.

It is not wise warfare to throw your ammunition to the enemy unless you throw it from the cannon's mouth.

Individual Liberty (1926)

LIBERTY enters the field of journalism to speak for herself because she finds no one willing to speak for her.

Libertys Declaration of Purpose (1881)

Socialism, on the contrary, extends its function to the description of society as it should be, and the discovery of the means of making it what it should be.

State Socialism and Anarchism: How Far They Agree, and Wherin They Differ (1888)

Laissez Faire was very good sauce for the goose, labor, but was very poor sauce for the gander, capital.

State Socialism and Anarchism: How Far They Agree, and Wherin They Differ (1888)

This brings us to Anarchism, which may be described as the doctrine that all the affairs of men should be managed by individuals or voluntary associations, and that the State should be abolished.

State Socialism and Anarchism: How Far They Agree, and Wherin They Differ (1888)

Such is the economic programme of State Socialism as adopted from Karl Marx.

State Socialism and Anarchism: How Far They Agree, and Wherin They Differ (1888)

The exercise of authority over the same area by two States is a contradiction.

The Relation of the State to the Individual (1890)

Taking this view of the matter, the Anarchists contend that defence is not an essential of the State, but that aggression is.

The Relation of the State to the Individual (1890)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Benjamin Tucker (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.