Who said “To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes…”?

Verified

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

Source"On the International Workingmen's Association and Karl Marx" (1872)

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“To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt.”
— Mikhail Bakunin
Verified"On the International Workingmen's Association and Karl Marx" (1872) · evidenceRebellion

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "On the International Workingmen's Association and Karl Marx" (1872).

APA

Bakunin, M. (n.d.). To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35453-to-revolt-is-a-natural-tendency-of-life/

MLA

Bakunin, Mikhail. “To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35453-to-revolt-is-a-natural-tendency-of-life/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Bakunin, Mikhail. “To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35453-to-revolt-is-a-natural-tendency-of-life/.

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More quotes by Mikhail Bakunin

“The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.”
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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.”
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“The passion for destruction is also a creative passion.”
Destructiveness
“Idealism is the despot of thought, just as politics is the despot of will.”
Ideals and Idealism
“Does it follow that I reject all authority? Perish the thought. In the matter of boots, I defer to the authority of the boot-maker.”
Authority
“Freedom, morality, and the human dignity of the individual consists precisely in this; that he does good not because he is forced to do so, but because he freely conceives it, wants it, and loves it.”
Goodness
All 7 Mikhail Bakunin quotes →