Peter Kropotkin

About the author

Kropotkin: Advocate of Mutual Aid

Peter Kropotkin was born on December 9, 1842, in Moscow, Russia, into a princely family. He renounced his title at a young age and chose to live in poverty. Kropotkin traveled through Siberia studying geography and anthropology, where he developed his theory of mutual aid. His studies led him to conclude that cooperation isn't a luxury but rather a necessity for survival, contradicting popular social Darwinist theories of the time. His work, both as a scientist and philosopher, made significant contributions to anarchism and presented a counter-argument to the prevalent narrative of 'survival of the fittest'.

Throughout his life, Kropotkin wrote extensively on various subjects, including science, philosophy, and anarchy. His most notable works are 'Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution' and 'The Conquest of Bread', where he extensively discusses anarcho-communism. Kropotkin’s philosophies greatly influenced the anarchist movement decrying the state and capitalism while advocating for a society based on voluntary cooperation. He is considered a leading theorist of anarcho-communism.

Date of Birth: 9 December 1842

Date of Death: 8 February 1921

Country of Birth: Russia

Political Ideas: Mutual Aid, Anarcho-communism

Quotes Available: 72

Quotes by Peter Kropotkin

The coming Revolution could render no greater service to humanity than by making the wage system, in all its forms, an impossibility, and by rendering Communism, which is the negation of wage-slavery, the only possible solution.

The coming Revolution could render no greater service to humanity than by making the wage system, in all its forms, an impossibility, and by rendering Communism, which is the negation of wage-slavery, the only possible solution.

Prisons are universities of crime, maintained by the state.

Prisons are universities of crime, maintained by the state.

Be strong. Overflow with emotional and intellectual energy, and you will spread your intelligence, your love, your energy of action broadcast among others! This is what all moral teaching comes to.

Be strong. Overflow with emotional and intellectual energy, and you will spread your intelligence, your love, your energy of action broadcast among others! This is what all moral teaching comes to.

The mutual-aid tendency in man has so remote an origin, and is so deeply interwoven with all the past evolution of the human race, that is has been maintained by mankind up to the present time, notwithstanding all vicissitudes of history.

The mutual-aid tendency in man has so remote an origin, and is so deeply interwoven with all the past evolution of the human race, that is has been maintained by mankind up to the present time, notwithstanding all vicissitudes of history.

When we have but the will to do it, that very moment will Justice be done: that very instant the tyrants of the Earth shall bite the dust.

When we have but the will to do it, that very moment will Justice be done: that very instant the tyrants of the Earth shall bite the dust.

Have not prisons - which kill all will and force of character in man, which enclose within their walls more vices than are met with on any other spot of the globe - always been universities of crime? Is not the court of a tribunal a school of ferocity?

Have not prisons - which kill all will and force of character in man, which enclose within their walls more vices than are met with on any other spot of the globe - always been universities of crime? Is not the court of a tribunal a school of ferocity?

A structure based on centuries of history cannot be destroyed with a few kilos of explosives.

A structure based on centuries of history cannot be destroyed with a few kilos of explosives.

It is a sad sight to see those who believe themselves to be revolutionaries unleashing their hatred on the anarchist.

It is a sad sight to see those who believe themselves to be revolutionaries unleashing their hatred on the anarchist.

The state idea means something quite different from the idea of government.

The state idea means something quite different from the idea of government.

Idlers do not make history: they suffer it!

Idlers do not make history: they suffer it!

The means of production being the collective work of humanity, the product should be the collective property of the race.

The means of production being the collective work of humanity, the product should be the collective property of the race.

America is just the country that shows how all the written guarantees in the world for freedom are no protection against tyranny and oppression of the worst kind.

America is just the country that shows how all the written guarantees in the world for freedom are no protection against tyranny and oppression of the worst kind.

Governmental communism, like theocratic communism, is repugnant to the worker.

Governmental communism, like theocratic communism, is repugnant to the worker.

It is often said that anarchists live in a world of dreams to come, and do not see the things which happen today. We do see them only too well, and in their true colors, and that is what makes us carry the hatchet into the forest of prejudice that besets us.

It is often said that anarchists live in a world of dreams to come, and do not see the things which happen today. We do see them only too well, and in their true colors, and that is what makes us carry the hatchet into the forest of prejudice that besets us.

In place of the cowardly phrase, "Obey the law," our cry is "Revolt against all laws!"

In place of the cowardly phrase, "Obey the law," our cry is "Revolt against all laws!"

Instead of inanely repeating the old formula, "Respect the law," we say, "Despise law and all its attributes!"

Instead of inanely repeating the old formula, "Respect the law," we say, "Despise law and all its attributes!"

What economists call over-production is but a production that is above the purchasing power of the worker, who is reduced to poverty by capital and state.

What economists call over-production is but a production that is above the purchasing power of the worker, who is reduced to poverty by capital and state.

Freedoms are not given, they are taken.

Freedoms are not given, they are taken.

Sociability is as much a law of nature as mutual struggle.

Sociability is as much a law of nature as mutual struggle.

There are periods in the life of human society when revolution becomes an imperative necessity, when it proclaims itself as inevitable.

There are periods in the life of human society when revolution becomes an imperative necessity, when it proclaims itself as inevitable.

It is above all over the question of the state that socialists are divided.

It is above all over the question of the state that socialists are divided.

In existing states a fresh law is looked upon as a remedy for evil.

In existing states a fresh law is looked upon as a remedy for evil.

The individual is quite a world of federations, a whole universe in himself.

The individual is quite a world of federations, a whole universe in himself.

The peoples of the world are becoming profoundly dissatisfied and are not appeased by the promise of the social democrats to patch up the state into a new engine of oppression.

The peoples of the world are becoming profoundly dissatisfied and are not appeased by the promise of the social democrats to patch up the state into a new engine of oppression.

The word "state" is identical with the word "war."

The word "state" is identical with the word "war."

Courage, devotion, the spirit of sacrifice, are as contagious as cowardice, submission, and panic.

Courage, devotion, the spirit of sacrifice, are as contagious as cowardice, submission, and panic.

Individual appropriation is neither just nor serviceable. All belongs to all.

Individual appropriation is neither just nor serviceable. All belongs to all.

America is just the country that shows how all the written guarantees in the world for freedom are no protection against tyranny and oppression of the worst kind. There the politician has come to be looked upon as the very scum of society.

America is just the country that shows how all the written guarantees in the world for freedom are no protection against tyranny and oppression of the worst kind. There the politician has come to be looked upon as the very scum of society.

The law has no claim to human respect. It has no civilizing mission; its only purpose is to protect exploitation.

The law has no claim to human respect. It has no civilizing mission; its only purpose is to protect exploitation.

The Roman Empire was a state in the real sense of the word. To this day it remains the legist's ideal.

The Roman Empire was a state in the real sense of the word. To this day it remains the legist's ideal.

All things are for all men, since all men have need of them, since all men have worked in the measure of their strength to produce them, and since it is not possible to evaluate every one's part in the production of the world's wealth.

All things are for all men, since all men have need of them, since all men have worked in the measure of their strength to produce them, and since it is not possible to evaluate every one's part in the production of the world's wealth.

Those animals which acquire habits of mutual aid are undoubtedly the fittest.

Those animals which acquire habits of mutual aid are undoubtedly the fittest.

The law is an adroit mixture of customs that are beneficial to society, and could be followed even if no law existed, and others that are of advantage to a ruling minority, but harmful to the masses of men, and can be enforced on them only by terror.

The law is an adroit mixture of customs that are beneficial to society, and could be followed even if no law existed, and others that are of advantage to a ruling minority, but harmful to the masses of men, and can be enforced on them only by terror.

One courageous act has sufficed to upset in a few days the entire governmental machinery, to make the colossus tremble.

One courageous act has sufficed to upset in a few days the entire governmental machinery, to make the colossus tremble.

It is especially in the domain of ethics that the dominating importance of the mutual aid principle appears in full.

It is especially in the domain of ethics that the dominating importance of the mutual aid principle appears in full.

A different conception of society, very different from that which now prevails, is in process of formation.

A different conception of society, very different from that which now prevails, is in process of formation.