"This contradiction lies here: they wish God, and they wish humanity. They persist in connecting two terms which, once separated, can come together again only to destroy each other"

In this quote, Mikhail Bakunin is highlighting a fundamental contradiction in humanity. He argues that people have a desire for both God and mankind, but these two concepts are frequently at chances with each other. The problem, according to Bakunin, is that people try to connect these two terms, even though they are fundamentally various and incompatible. When these terms are separated, they can exist together in harmony, but when they are required together, they eventually result in destruction. This contradiction reflects the battle between our spiritual and earthly desires, and the consequences of attempting to reconcile them. Bakunin's words serve as a cautionary reminder of the risks of requiring conflicting ideologies together.