Home / Quotes / Quote by Alexander Herzen

Quote by Alexander Herzen

“History is the autobiography of a madman.”

Quote by Alexander Herzen

Author

Alexander Herzen

Alexander Herzen (April 6, 1812 - January 21, 1870) was a prominent Russian writer, thinker, and social activist, known as one of the pioneers of the Russian democratic movement. His works deeply revealed the contradictions and problems of the Russian society at that time, and had a profound impact on the Russian literary and intellectual circles. more

You May Also Like

“We think the purpose of a child is to grow up because it does grow up. But its purpose is to play, to enjoy itself, to be a child. If we merely look to the end of the process, the purpose of life is death”

Ifs Thinking Looks Children Doe Ends Play Life Is Purpose Grows Process Enjoy Growing Up Purpose Of Life

Author:Alexander Herzen

“Slavery is the first step towards civilization. In order to develop it is necessary that things should be much better for some and much worse for others, then those who are better off can develop at the expense of others.”

Should Firsts Order Steps Civilization Slavery Expenses First Steps Better Off

Author:Alexander Herzen

“If nations always moved from one set of furnished rooms to another -- and always into a better set -- things might be easier, but the trouble is that there is no one to prepare the new rooms. The future is worse than the ocean -- there is nothing there. It will be what men and circumstances make it.”

Ifs Men Might Nations Rooms Trouble Circumstances Easier Ocean Moved

Author:Alexander Herzen

“Liberalism, austere in political trifles, has learned ever more artfully to unite a constant protest against the government with a constant submission to it.”

Government Political Constant Liberalism Protest Submission Trifles

Author:Alexander Herzen

“To build a city where it is impossible to build a city is madness in itself, but to build there one of the most elegant and grandest of cities is the madness of genius.”

Cities Impossible Genius Madness Elegant Venice

Author:Alexander Herzen

“A politician, he knows that the majority cares little for ideals or integrity. What it craves is display.”

Littles Care Integrity Ideals Majority Display Crave

Author:Emma Goldman

“We Americans claim to be a peace-loving people. We hate bloodshed; we are opposed to violence. Yet we go into spasms of joy over the possibility of projecting dynamite bombs from flying machines upon helpless citizens.”

People Joy Hate Violence Possibility Citizens Machines Claims Flying Bombs Helpless Bloodshed Dynamite Flying Machines

Book:Emma Goldman

Source: Emma Goldman

“How long would authority ... exist, if not for the willingness of the mass to become soldiers, policemen, jailers, and hangmen.”

Ifs Long Authority Mass Soldier Willingness Policemen Hangman Jailer

Book:Anarchism: Top Crime Collections

Source: Anarchism: Top Crime Collections

“Social and economic well-being will become a reality only through the zeal, courage, the non-compromising determination of intelligent minorities, and not through the mass.”

Wells Reality Social Economic Mass Determination Intelligent Compromise Well Being Minorities Zeal

Book:Anarchism: Top Crime Collections

Source: Anarchism: Top Crime Collections

“Conceit, arrogance, and egotism are the essentials of patriotism.”

Essentials Arrogance Patriotism Patriotic Egotism Conceit Patriotism And Nationalism Anti Patriotism

Book:Anarchism and Other Essays

Source: Anarchism and Other Essays