They make revolutionary propaganda because they know the privileged class can never be overturned peacefully.

About Johann Most

Johann Joseph “Hans” Mostwas a German-American Social Democratic and then anarchist politician, newspaper editor, and orator. He is credited with popularizing the concept of “propaganda of the deed”.

More about the author

More quotes from Johann Most

Anarchists are socialists because they want the improvement of society, and they are communists because they are convinced that such a transformation of society can only result from the establishment of a commonwealth of property.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

Whoever looks at America will see: the ship is powered by stupidity, corruption, or prejudice.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

The aims of anarchists and true communists are identical.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

Is anarchism possible? The failure of attempts to attain freedom does not mean the cause is lost.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

Above all, what socialist, without flushing with shame, maintains he is not a revolutionary? We say: none!.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

Anarchists prepare for social revolution and use every means- speech, writing, or deed, whichever is more to the point – to accelerate revolutionary development.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

We need do no more than repeat: only under communism does the individual become himself and lead his own life.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

The anarchists, on behalf of the proletariat, therefore consider it necessary to show the proletariat that it will have to win a gigantic battle before it realizes its goals.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

The existing system will be quickest and most radically overthrown by the annihilation of its exponents. Therefore, massacres of the enemies of the people must be set in motion.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

While we have entertained the contention that a deed may make more propaganda than hundreds of speeches, thousands of articles, and tens of thousands of pamphlets, we have held that an arbitrary act of violence will not necessarily have such an effect.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

Fortunately, no country was ever more suited for anarchist agitation than present-day America.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

‘God’ – as revealed in his book of edicts and narratives is practically an idiot. He has nothing to say that any sensible person should want to listen to.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

The god of the Christians, as we have seen, is the god who makes promises only to break them; who sends them pestilence and disease in order to heal them; a god who demoralizes mankind in order to improve it.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

If on the one side we do not harbor the illusion that the entire proletariat must be enlightened before it can be called into battle, so on the other we do not doubt that as much enlightenment as possible must be produced with oral and printed agitation.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

If we hope and even assume that the social question will be answered through communism, and not in this or that country but in the world, any thought of centralization must be a monstrosity.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

As set forth by theologians, the idea of ‘God’ is an argument that assumes its own conclusions, and proves nothing.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

He who negates present society, and seeks social conditions based on the sharing of property, is a revolutionary whether he calls himself an anarchist or a communist.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

It is the lash of hunger which compels the poor man to submit. In order to live he must sell – ‘voluntarily’ sell – himself every day and hour to the ‘beast of property.’

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

They make revolutionary propaganda because they know the privileged class can never be overturned peacefully.

Johann Most

German-American anarchist

Is anarchism desirable? Well, who does not seek freedom? What man, unless willing to declare himself in bondage, would care to call any control agreeable? Think about it!

Johann Most

German-American anarchist