# Revolution and Anarchy explained — Moribund Society and Anarchy > Chapter companion for Moribund Society and Anarchy by Jean Grave. ## What happens This chapter distinguishes between Anarchists who view revolution as an end in itself and those who see it as a means to achieve Anarchy. It warns against illusions that revolution alone will bring about the ideal, emphasizing instead the need for clear propagation of Anarchist ideas, conscious individuals, and the rejection of authoritarian methods and compromises. The text argues that social and economic crises will inevitably provoke revolution, and that Anarchist influence will be stronger the more the ideas are understood and spread. ## Themes in this chapter ### Social Revolution The chapter centrally debates the role of revolution, arguing it is a means, not an end, and that it will arise from social and economic crises rather than from organized groups alone. ### Individualism and Solidarity Emphasizes the importance of conscious, autonomous individuals who understand Anarchist principles, while also noting the convergence of isolated efforts toward a common goal. ### Negation of Authority Criticizes those who return to authoritarian methods under changed names, and advocates for the destruction of authority as a core Anarchist principle. ### Critique of Private Property Mentions the abolition of private property as a common basis of Anarchist ideas across different countries. ## Character check-ins ### Unknown Narrator The narrator articulates the distinction between revolution as a means versus an end, and advocates for the propagation of Anarchist ideas to create conscious individuals. ### The Anarchists Referenced as a diverse group with differing views on methods; some are impatient and focus on revolution, while others prioritize ideological clarity. ### Anarchy Personified as the ideal to be achieved; the chapter discusses how Anarchist action will be more effective in revolution if the ideas of Anarchy are widely understood. ### Their Masters Implied as the ruling class whose injustices create malcontents and rebels, contributing to the revolutionary situation. ## Key lines > That there is this divergence among Anarchists in the way of looking upon methods of action is because some of them, more carried away by temperament than controlled by principles, though they believe themselves to be fighting for Anarchy, really have in view only a revolution, imagining that it, by its very essence, leads to every Anarchistic ideal... Some Anarchists are driven more by emotion than principle, mistakenly thinking that revolution itself will automatically bring about Anarchy. _Highlights the central conflict between those who see revolution as an end versus those who see it as a means._ > We, on the other hand, are convinced that the revolution will come from without our ranks and before we shall be numerous enough to provoke it. We believe revolution will arise from external social conditions, not from our own organized efforts. _Expresses the narrator's view that revolution is inevitable due to societal crises, not dependent on Anarchist numbers._ > What we seek before all is to state our ideas precisely, to spread them, to gather together comrades thoroughly conscious of their position, avoiding every concession which might conceal any portion of our ideal... Our priority is to clarify and disseminate our ideas, and to unite only with those who fully understand and commit to our principles without compromise. _Emphasizes ideological purity and conscious recruitment over numerical growth._ > Let us, then, leave the task of making revolutionists, to society, by its crying injustices creating malcontents and rebels; let us seek to make individuals conscious, knowing what they want; in a word perfect Anarchists... Society's injustices will create rebels; our job is to educate them into conscious Anarchists who know why they act. _Distinguishes between creating rebels (society's role) and creating conscious Anarchists (our role)._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moribund_society_and_anarchy_se/chapters/xviii-revolution-and-anarchy - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moribund_society_and_anarchy_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moribund_society_and_anarchy_se/chapters