1001Philosophers

Max Stirner Quotes

Johann Kaspar Schmidt, who wrote under the pen name Max Stirner, was a German philosopher and the principal exponent of philosophical egoism. A regular at the Berlin circle of the Young Hegelians known as Die Freien, he taught for many years at a girls' academy in Berlin and translated Adam Smith and Jean-Baptiste Say into German. The quotes below are attributed to Max Stirner, organized by topic.

Max Stirner on Freedom

  • Attributed to Max Stirner:

    “I have set my cause on nothing.”

  • Attributed to Max Stirner:

    “All causes higher than my own are spooks.”

  • Attributed to Max Stirner:

    “I am owner of my might, and I am so when I know myself as unique.”

Read all Max Stirner quotes on Freedom

Max Stirner on Mind

  • Attributed to Max Stirner:

    “Man, your head is haunted; you have wheels in your head.”

Max Stirner on Politics

  • Attributed to Max Stirner:

    “The state calls its own violence law, that of the individual crime.”