SOURCE: "Herzen and Bakunin on Individual Liberty," in Russian Thinkers, edited by Henry Hardy and Aileen Kelly, Viking Press, 1978, pp. 82-113.

Berlin is a noted twentieth-century critic of Russian literature, much of whose work has focused on Alexander Herzen. The characterization of Bakunin that follows, excerpted from a 1955 essay comparing him with Herzen, has often supplied later critics with an exemplary devaluation of Bakunin. Although Berlin lauds Bakunin's political motives and spirit, he emphasizes Bakunin's apparent weaknesses as a theorist and a writer.

Bakunin, as his enemies and followers will equally testify, dedicated his entire life to the struggle for liberty. He fought for it in action and in words. More than any other individual in Europe he stood for ceaseless rebellion against every form of constituted authority, for ceaseless protest in the name of the insulted and oppressed of every nation and class. His power of cogent...