Nihilists

A radical society of the maddest proclivities, which started into existence in 1848, under the leadership of Herzen and Bakunin. Their professed object was to annihilate all laws of social community, and reform the world de novo. The following is their code:—

(1) Annihilate the idea of a God, or there can be no freedom.

(2) Annihilate the idea of right, which is only might.

(3) Annihilate civilisation, property, marriage, morality, and justice.

(4) Let your own happiness be your only law

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.