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About George Nicholson
George Nicholson, 20th century anarchist and contributor to the British anarchist newspaper, Freedom
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βThere is something radically wrong, [the anarchist] declares, in a system of society that functions and maintains its existence by the impetus of violence and force. He sees nothing praiseworthy in political society which has recourse to periodic wars, or need of jails, gallows and bludgeons--and it is because he is aware that these brutal weapons are the instruments of every government and State that he works for their destruction. β¦ Unlike the politician, he does not regard dishonesty, brutality and avariciousness as natural characteristics of human nature, but as the inevitable consequences of coercion and frustration engendered by artificial law, he believes that these social evils are best eradicated not by greater penalties and further legislation, but by the free development of the latent forces of solidarity and sympathetic understanding which government and law so ruthlessly suppress. β¦ Freedom will be possible when people understand and desire it--for man can only rule where others subserviently obey. Where none obey, none has power to rule.β
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George Nicholson on Vegetarianism
βOpposers of compassion urge: βIf we should live on vegetable food, what shall we do with our cattle? What would become of them? They would grow so numerous they would be prejudicial to usβthey would eat us up if we did not kill and eat them.β But there is abundance of animals in the world whom men do not kill and eat; and yet we hear not of their injuring mankind, and sufficient room is found for their abode. Horses are not usually killed to be eaten, and yet we have not heard of any country overstocked with them. ... Cattle are at present an article of trade, and their numbers are industriously promoted. ... Self-preservation justifies a man in putting noxious animals to death, yet cannot warrant the least act of cruelty to any being. ... Some animals are savage and unfeeling; but let not their ferocity and brutality be the standard pattern of the conduct of man. Because some of them have no compassion, feeling, or reason, are we to possess no compassion, feeling, or reason?β
George Nicholson on Anarchism
βThere is something radically wrong, he declares, in a system of society that functions and maintains its existence by the impetus of violence and force. He sees nothing praiseworthy in political society which has recourse to periodic wars, or need of jails, gallows and bludgeons β and it is because he is aware that these brutal weapons are the instruments of every government and State that he works for their destruction. β¦ Unlike the politician, he does not regard dishonesty, brutality and avariciousness as natural characteristics of human nature, but as the inevitable consequences of coercion and frustration engendered by artificial law, he believes that these social evils are best eradicated not by greater penalties and further legislation, but by the free development of the latent forces of solidarity and sympathetic understanding which government and law so ruthlessly suppress. Freedom will be possible when people understand and desire it β for man can only rule where others subserviently obey. Where none obey, none has power to rule.β
About George Nicholson
George Nicholson, 20th century anarchist and contributor to the British anarchist newspaper, Freedom