I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those who are now possible remain possible

I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those who are now possible remain possible

Mikhail Bakunin, a Russian revolutionary and anarchist thinker, is often quoted as saying, “I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those who are now possible remain possible.” This statement encapsulates Bakunin’s belief in challenging the status quo and resisting authority in all its forms.

Bakunin was a staunch critic of the state and believed that true freedom could only be achieved through the abolition of all forms of hierarchy and domination. He saw the existing social order as oppressive and exploitative, and he dedicated his life to fighting against it. Bakunin believed that those in power would always seek to maintain their position and suppress any attempts at liberation or revolution. As long as those in power remained possible, he saw himself as an impossible person – someone who would never conform to the norms and expectations of society.

Bakunin’s philosophy of anarchism was rooted in a deep distrust of authority and a belief in the inherent goodness and autonomy of individuals. He believed that people should be free to govern themselves and make decisions collectively, without the need for a centralized state or government. Bakunin saw the state as a tool of oppression, used by the ruling class to maintain their power and privilege at the expense of the masses.