Max Stirner by The Ego & His Own

Author:The Ego & His Own
Language: eng
Format: epub

He who, to hold his own, must count on the absence of will in others is a thing made by these others, as

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THE EGO AND HIS OWN

THE OWNER

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the master is a thing made by the servant. If submis-such my life long. So in the State-life I am at best—

siveness ceased, it would be all over with lordship.

I might just as well say, at worst—a bondman of my-The own will of Me is the State's destroyer; it is self. Because I was a willer yesterday, I am to-day therefore branded by the State as "self-will." Own without will: yesterday voluntary, to-day involuntary.

will and the State are powers in deadly hostility, be-How change it? Only by recognizing no duty, i. e.

tween which no " eternal peace " is possible. As long not binding myself nor letting myself be bound. If I as the State asserts itself, it represents own will, its have no duty, then I know no law either.

ever-hostile opponent, as unreasonable, evil, etc. ; and

" But they will bind me! " My will nobody can the latter lets itself be talked into believing this,—nay, bind, and my disinclination remains free.

it really is such, for no more reason than this, that it

" Why, everything must go topsy-turvy if every one still lets itself be talked into such belief: it has not could do what he would! " Well, who says that yet come to itself and to the consciousness of its dig-every one can do everything? What are you there nity; hence it is still incomplete, still amenable to fine for, pray, you who do not need to put up with words, etc.

everything? Defend yourself, and no one will do Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or anything to you! He who would break your will has many, or (as one is likely to imagine about a republic) to do with you, and is your enemy. Deal with him as if all be lords, i. e. despotize one over another. For such. If there stand behind you for your protection this is the case when the law given at any time, the ex-some millions more, then you are an imposing power pressed volition of (it may be) a popular assembly, is and will have an easy victory. But, even if as a thenceforth to be law for the individual, to which power you overawe your opponent, still you are not obedience is due from him, or toward which he has the on that account a hallowed authority to him, unless duty of obedience. If one were even to conceive the he be a simpleton. He does not owe you respect and case that every individual in the people had expressed regard, even though he will have to consider your the same will, and hereby a complete " collective will "

might.

had come into being, the matter would still remain We are accustomed to classify States according to the same. Would I not be bound to-day and hence-the different ways in which "the supreme might" is forth to my will of yesterday? My will would in this distributed.

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