Pierre-Joseph Proudhon:
(Besançon, 15 January 1809 – Passy (Seine) near Paris, 16 January 1865).
French self-taught economist, sociologist and theorist of socialism who is considered one of the first anarchist thinkers. Proudhon was the first person to call himself an anarchist and he introduced the word anarchism in 1840. He opposed authoritarian socialism and capitalism. He advocated instead a cooperative society, without government. Proudhon believed that anarchism should be achieved peacefully. Proudhon had great influence on Mikhail Bakunin and Peter Kropotkin. Besides being a theorist, Proudhon was also a man of practice. He tried to set up a bank that would grant interest-free loans and laid the foundations of a mutual aid system whose principles are still applied in the insurance world today (see also Peter Kropotkin’s book Mutual Aid).
Always the flag of freedom served to cover despotism.
There is only happiness in freedom and greatness in growing freedom.
It is not about killing individual freedom but about socializing it.
To be governed is to be watched over, inspected, spied on, directed, legislated at, regulated, docketed, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, assessed, weighed, censored, ordered about, by men who have neither the right, nor the knowledge, nor the virtue.
Origin: Context: This quote is part of a broader discussion about the nature of government and its impact on individual freedom. It critically examines how governance can lead to oppression and control. Author: This quote comes from Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, a French philosopher and political activist known for his anarchist views. He is often considered the father of anarchism. Summary: The saying emphasizes the negative aspects of being governed, emphasizing control and the lack of justice by ruling authorities. Proudhon’s work remains relevant in discussions of freedom and authority.
