Alfredo Bonanno

About the author

Alfredo Bonanno, noted anarchist thinker

Alfredo Maria Bonanno was born on 2nd July 1937 in Catania, Italy. As an influential anarchist, he contributed significantly in the promotion and development of anarchy through his writings and teachings. He was a strong promoter of insurrectionary anarchism and illegalism.

Bonanno wrote extensively about the concept of insurrectionary anarchism and argued for a revolutionary strategy that was more informal and emphasized small, independent groups who could carry out direct actions. His famous works include 'The Anarchist Tension' and 'Armed Joy'. Bonanno's thoughts greatly influenced the modern anarchist movement by steering it towards a more insurrectionary and spontaneous approach.

Date of Birth: 1937-07-02

Country of Birth: Italy

Political Ideas: Insurrectionary Anarchism

Quotes Available: 11

Quotes by Alfredo Bonanno

A small group of comrades, a small group who simply meet in the evening to have a chat would not be an affinity group but a group of friends, pub-mates who meet in the evenings to talk about anything under the sun.

In an informal organization there is no question of synthesis.

Being an anarchist does not mean one has reached a certainty or said once and for all, "There, from now on I hold the truth and as such, at least from the point of view of the idea, I am a privileged person." Anyone who thinks like this is an anarchist in word alone.

Never ever separate thought from action, the things we know, the things we understand, from the things we do, the things with which we carry out our actions.

What would have happened if one had really managed to enter the base and destroy it? I don't know. Probably nothing, possibly everything.

We are certain that communities of joy will emerge from our struggle here and now. And for the first time life will triumph over death.

Now, in a situation where the working class has practically disintegrated, the possibility of an expropriation of the means of production no longer exists.

When [the synthesis anarchist organization] develops itself fully (as happened in Spain in '36) it begins to dangerously resemble a party. Synthesis becomes control.

So that is why anarchists keep coming back to the question of what anarchism is. Because anarchism is not a political movement. Or rather it is, but only in a minor aspect.

The fact that Sacco and Vanzetti were murdered although obviously innocent proves only one thing: that the concept of innocence and guilt is not an objective fact but is a measure imposed by the class struggle.

The world does not belong to us. If it has a master who is stupid enough to want it the way it is, let him have it.

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