"Political Freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying"
- Mikhail Bakunin
About this Quote
In this quote, Mikhail Bakunin, a Russian revolutionary and thinker, is highlighting the importance of economic equality in accomplishing true political liberty. He argues that without financial equality, any claims of political freedom are merely a facade, a deception, and a fraud. Bakunin thinks that the working class, who are often oppressed and made use of by the ruling class, are not interested in incorrect promises and empty rhetoric. They desire concrete and meaningful modification that deals with the financial disparities and inequalities that exist in society. For Bakunin, true political freedom can only be attained when economic equality is likewise attained, and any efforts to separate the 2 are disingenuous.