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If we are unable to overthrow capitalism, we shall have to demand for our-

selves and for all who want it, the right of free access to the necessary means

of production to maintain an independent existence.

Advise when we have suggestions to offer; teach if we know more than others;set the example for a life based on free agreement between men; defend even

with force if necessary and possible, our autonomy against any government

provocation but command, govern or rule never!

In this way we shall not achieve anarchy, which cannot be imposed against the

will of the people, but at least we shall be preparing the way for it. We do not

have to wait indefinitely for the state to wither away or for our rulers to be-

come part of the people and to give up their power over us if we can talk them

out of their position.

Errico Malatesta (December 14, 1853 - July

22, 1932) was an anarchist with an unshak-

able belief, which he shared with his friend

Peter Kropotkin, that the anarchist revolution

would occur soon. He spent a large part of

his life in exile from his homeland of Italy

and altogether spent more than ten years in

prison. He wrote and edited a number of radi-cal newspapers and was a friend of Mikhail

Bakunin. Malatesta was a committed revolu-

tionary: he believed that the anarchist revolu-

tion was coming soon, and that violence

would be a necessary part of it since the state

rested ultimately on violent coercion.

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