Terence McKenna Quotes

I believe that I have been basically anarchistic, anti-religion and anti-industry and business. In other words, anti-bureaucracy. I would like to see people behave well without having to have priests stand by, politicians stand by, or people collecting bills.

Government is an unnecessary evil. Human beings, when accustomed to taking responsibility for their own behavior, can cooperate on a basis of mutual trust and helpfulness.

I know of no better name than Anarchism.

I am not going to claim that modern anarchism has any direct relation to Roman jurisprudence; but I do claim that it has its basis in the laws of nature rather than in the state of nature.

Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others.

Certainly the worker has nothing to lose by a change from government and capitalism to a condition of no government, of anarchy. ~

Anarchism … may be described as the doctrine that all the affairs of men should be managed by individuals or voluntary associations, and that the State should be abolished.

I'm building an anarchistic society from the ground up.

Anarchism misunderstands the real nature of man. It would be practicable only in a world of angels and saints

Anarchism means all sort of things to different people but the traditional anarchists' movements assumed that there'd be a highly organized society, just one organized from below with direct participation and so on. Actually, one piece of the media confusion has a basis because there really are two different strands in the occupy movement, both important, but different.

The thought of how far the human race would have advanced without government simply staggers the imagination.

Anarchism means voluntary co-operation instead of forced participation. It means harmony and order in place of interference and disorder.

The idea of direct action against the evil that you want to overcome is a kind of common denominator for anarchist ideas and anarchist movements. I think one of the most important principles of anarchism is that you cannot separate means and ends. Anarchism requires means and ends to be in line with one another. I think this is in fact one of the distinguishing characteristics of anarchism.

Anarchism is democracy taken seriously.

I am an anarchist in my personal life. I try to live my life in a way that I don't need cops or baby-sitters to keep me from infringing on others. But I don't feel we have evolved far enough as a species to make anarchy work in society itself. We still need government to transfer the wealth from those who have too much to those who have too little, to make sure important projects get done, and keep territorial humans from screwing over and killing each other.

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!

I don't believe in politics. I'm an anarchist, I guess you could say. I think people could be just fine looking after themselves.

We started off trying to set up a small anarchist community, but people wouldn't obey the rules.

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

If man asks for many laws it is only because he is sure that his neighbor needs them; privately he is an unphilosophical anarchist, and thinks laws in his own case superfluous.

I suppose what I believe in is peaceful anarchy.

Only man makes Karma.

I still totally believe in individual rights and individual responsibility and in choosing to do good.

What is an anarchist? One who, choosing, accepts the responsibility of choice.

Anarchism is not a romantic fable but the hardheaded realization, based on five thousand years of experience, that we cannot entrust the management of our lives to kings, priests, politicians, generals, and county commissioners.