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Voltairine de Cleyre
27quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Voltairine de Cleyre was a French-American anarchist and writer who went by various aliases throughout her life.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on November 17, 1866, in Walnut Creek, Michigan, Voltairine de Cleyre passed away on June 20, 1912, after being struck by a trolley car in Detroit, Michigan.
Nationality and Profession(s)
De Cleyre was of French-Canadian descent and held dual citizenship. She worked as a writer, lecturer, and activist throughout her career, primarily focusing on anarchist thought and philosophy.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family with strong abolitionist roots, Voltairine de Cleyre developed an early interest in social justice. Her parents were both deeply committed to the cause of ending slavery, which would later influence her own radical views as she matured. As a child, she suffered from polio and was forced to rely on crutches for mobility throughout much of her life.
Major Accomplishments
De Cleyre's impact on anarchist circles cannot be overstated; she is widely regarded as one of the most influential women in American anarchism during the early 20th century. Throughout her life, she traveled extensively across North America, sharing her ideas with various communities and contributing to numerous publications.
Notable Works or Actions
Voltairine de Cleyre's most notable works include The Train Wreckers (1905), a collection of essays that explored the tension between labor movements and the state. Additionally, she penned several influential pamphlets on topics ranging from anarchism in education to women's rights within the context of radical politics.
Impact and Legacy
Voltairine de Cleyre's dedication to spreading anarchist thought helped pave the way for future generations of activists and thinkers. Her unique blend of theory and activism not only earned her a prominent place among American anarchists but also solidified her position as an authority on feminist and labor issues within radical circles.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Today, Voltairine de Cleyre is remembered for her powerful writing style and unwavering commitment to the principles of anarchism. As a pioneering figure in American anarchist thought, she played a crucial role in shaping the philosophy's evolution during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Quotes by Voltairine de Cleyre
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Nearly all the laws which were originally framed with the intention of benefiting the workers, have either turned into weapons in their enemies’ hands, or become dead letters, unless the workers through their organizations have directly enforced the observance. So that in the end, it is direct action that has to be relied on anyway.
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The idea of the little commune, therefore, comes instinctively to the Anarchists of Europe, – particularly the continental ones; with them it is merely the conscious development of a submerged instinct. With Americans it is an importation. I.
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We in America never knew the village commune. White Civilization struck our shores in a broad tide-sheet and swept over the country inclusively; among us was never seen the little commune growing up from a state of barbarism independently, out of primary industries, and maintaining itself within itself. There was no gradual change from the mode of life of the native people to our own; there was a wiping out and a complete transplantation of the latest form of European civilization.
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Would you be always young? Then be an Anarchist, and live with the faith of hope, though you be old.
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Private enterprise manages better all that to which it is equal. Anarchism declares that private enterprise, whether individual or cooperative, is equal to all the undertakings of society.
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No matter: Man always hopes; Life always hopes. When a definite object cannot be outlined, the indomitable spirit of hope still impels the living mass to move toward something – something that shall somehow be better. What.
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As long as the working-people fold hands and pray the gods in Washington to give them work, so long they will not get it.
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Each choose that method which expresses your selfhood best, and condemn no other man because he expresses his Self otherwise.
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