Political Freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying.

Mikhail Bakunin’s quote, “Political freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying,” critiques the idea that true freedom can exist without addressing economic inequality. Bakunin, a prominent anarchist and revolutionary, argues that political freedom—the right to vote, speak freely, or participate in government—is meaningless if it does not come with economic equality. For him, true liberation is not just about political rights but also about ensuring that all people have the economic resources necessary to live with dignity and independence.

The quote emphasizes the contradiction between political rights and economic power. Bakunin believed that as long as there was economic inequality, the political freedoms of the working class would be limited by the control of the wealthy and powerful. In his view, economic power was the true foundation of freedom, and without addressing disparities in wealth and access, any claim to democracy or freedom was hollow. He contends that the working class, or the workers, could not be truly free if their economic conditions were controlled by elites.

The origin of this quote lies in Bakunin’s broader anarchist philosophy, which was rooted in the belief that both state power and capitalism were inherently oppressive. He saw economic equality as essential to achieving a just society and rejected systems that allowed a small minority to hold significant wealth and power over the majority. His critique of political systems that failed to address economic disparity was a central theme in his writings and activism, particularly during the 19th century when he was involved in revolutionary movements across Europe.

Ultimately, Bakunin’s quote underscores the idea that freedom is not merely the absence of political oppression, but also the presence of economic justice. It calls for a society where economic equality enables all individuals, especially the working class, to enjoy true freedom—a vision of liberation that goes beyond political rights to address the fundamental inequities of wealth and power.