“Just as Marx used to say about the French Marxists of the late ‘seventies: All I know is that I am not a Marxist.”

Freedom does not consist in any dreamt-of independence from natural laws, but in the knowledge of these laws, and in the possibility this gives of systematically making them work towards definite ends.

Bare-faced covetousness was the moving spirit of civilization from its first dawn to the present day; wealth, and again wealth, and for the third time wealth; wealth, not of society, but of the puny individual, was its only and final aim.

Ireland still remains the Holy Isle whose aspirations must on no account be mixed with the profane class-struggles of the rest of the sinful world. The Irish peasant must not on any account know that the Socialist workers are his sole allies in Europe.

Some laws of state aimed at curbing crime are even more criminal.

In 10 years, this sleepy Canada will be ripe for annexation – the farmers in Manitoba, etc., will demand it themselves. Besides, the country is half annexed already socially – hotels, newspapers, advertising, etc., all on the American pattern.

The free development of each is the condition for the free development of all.

It would appear that the natural frontier of Russia runs from Dantzic or perhaps Stettin to Trieste.

The proletariat uses the State not in the interests of freedom but in order to hold down its adversaries, and as soon as it becomes possible to speak of freedom the State as such ceases to exist.

The state is nothing but an instrument of opression of one class by another – no less so in a democratic republic than in a monarchy.

If in all ideology men and their circumstances appear upside-down as in a camera obscura, this phenomenon arises just as much from their historical life-process as the inversion of objects on the retina does from the physical life-process.

Only sound common sense, respectable fellow that he is, in the homely realm of his own four walls, has very wonderful adventures directly he ventures out into the wide world of research.

The way in which the vast mass of the poor are treated by modern society is truly scandalous. They are herded into great cities where they breathe a fouler air than in the countryside which they have left.

The emancipation of woman will only be possible when woman can take part in production on a large, social scale, and domestic work no longer claims anything but an insignificant amount of her time.

I have learned more [from Balzac] than from all the professional historians, economists, and statisticians put together.

How do you think the transition from the present situation to community of Property is to be effected? The first, fundamental condition for the introduction of community of property is the political liberation of the proletariat through a democratic constitution.

Terror consists mostly of useless cruelties perpetrated by frightened people in order to reassure themselves.

I learned English in one month. I told myself I should listen. In the next month I could talk to everyone. I was so happy because I could do one thing…I could talk.

Talk about a dream, try to make it real.

The message is always going to get through. Me being able to speak is a message in itself.

I’m like Muhammed Ali. When he said he would knock someone out in the fourth round, he did it.

I thought highly of myself growing up. I still do. There’s not really much somebody can say to me to bring down my confidence or anything.

I think artists are aware that talking gives a songwriter so much material. If they just tell us what’s happening, it’s so much easier for us to write a song that’s specific to them.

An older guy, he’s going to show you things that a young man can’t show you. He’s going to show you how to stay alive. He’s going to show you how to turn corners where your young friends will show you how to turn right into that wall, you know what I’m saying?

You can’t stop people from talking about you, but you can stop giving them something to talk about.