"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"

Freedom, according to Bakunin, is intimately tied to the internal motivations of the individual rather than external compulsion. True liberty is not defined by the mere absence of restraint or the ability to do whatever one pleases; rather, it is rooted in the capacity to act ethically and responsibly based on genuine conviction. When a person chooses to do good, not out of fear of punishment or expectation of reward, but because goodness has become part of their own deeply held beliefs, the act reflects both respect for oneself and for the broader community.

Morality, from this perspective, has little value if it is only performed under compulsion. When society or authority imposes moral behavior through coercion, the individual’s dignity is diminished, turning actions that could have been expressions of virtue into robotic compliance. Bakunin emphasizes that the core of human dignity lies in autonomy, the ability to discern, desire, and love what is good. It is through the exercise of personal judgment and the cultivation of authentic values that individuals are elevated beyond mere subjecthood and become fully actualized moral beings.

This approach is profoundly humanistic, suggesting that freedom and morality are not opposites but are, at their best, mutually reinforcing. The highest ethical life is not about subservience to external laws or norms but about freely embracing and internalizing values that uplift both self and society. Individual acts of goodness derived from inner reflection and sincere intent contribute more profoundly to collective wellbeing than acts compelled by fear, duty, or obligation.

Freely chosen goodness affirms both personal and collective dignity, illustrating that a society structured to encourage genuine choice and moral development enables true freedom. The realization of freedom, morality, and dignity becomes possible when people are trusted to discover, want, and embrace the good for themselves, not as passive recipients of commands, but as active, autonomous agents in their own right.