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Workers, the most absolutely necessary part of the whole social structure, without whose services none can either eat, or clothe, or shelter himself, are just the ones who get the least to eat, to wear, and to be housed withal — to say nothing of their share of the other social benefits which the rest of us are supposed to furnish, such as education and artistic gratification.

— Voltairine de Cleyre Direct Action (1912)

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More quotes by Voltairine de Cleyre

As to the American tradition of non-meddling, Anarchism asks that it be carried down to the individual himself.

Anarchism & American Traditions (1908)

The love of material ease has been, in the mass of men and permanently speaking, always greater than the love of liberty.

Anarchism & American Traditions (1908)

Of the exercise of a right power may deprive me; of the right itself, never.

The Economic Tendency of Freethought (1890)

I would rather, much rather, be illegitimate according to the statutes of men, than illegitimate according to the unchanging law of Nature.

Sex Slavery (1890)

Let the guarantee of free speech be in every man's determination to use it, and we shall have no need of paper declarations.

Anarchism & American Traditions (1908)

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The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows.

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In a society such as ours, it is almost impossible for a person to be responsible.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Voltairine de Cleyre (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.