Who said “I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom…”?

Verified

Mikhail Bakunin. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThis passage was translated as Part III : The System of Anarchism , Ch. 13: Summation, Section VI, in The Political Philosophy of Bakunin : Scientific Anarchism (1953), compiled and edited by G. P. Maximoff

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“I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.”
— Mikhail Bakunin
VerifiedThis passage was translated as Part III : The System of Anarchism , Ch. 13: Summation, Section VI, in The Political Philosophy of Bakunin : Scientific Anarchism (1953), compiled and edited by G. P. Maximoff · evidenceLiberty

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: This passage was translated as Part III : The System of Anarchism , Ch. 13: Summation, Section VI, in The Political Philosophy of Bakunin : Scientific Anarchism (1953), compiled and edited by G. P. Maximoff.

APA

Bakunin, M. (n.d.). I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26439-i-am-truly-free-only-when-all-human/

MLA

Bakunin, Mikhail. “I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26439-i-am-truly-free-only-when-all-human/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Bakunin, Mikhail. “I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26439-i-am-truly-free-only-when-all-human/.

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