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[scarmig]

At first, I liked this quote: 

"Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others." -- Edward Abbey

But as I thought about it, I find it really doesn't suit my personal view of anarchism at all.

My view of anarchy is a very positive one of people as individuals, and negative one of groups.  So if it were me writing a quotable sound blurb on anarchism, I think I would write:

Anarchism is founded on the observation that since most men are wise enough to rule themselves, they need no one to rule for them.

[Fardan]

I thought the quote was a way of saying that men exist who are wise enough to rule other people, just not many.  So it's a way of legitimizing the system in a left handed way. Keeps it all going.   
As in someday there will be a "leader, wise and good."  Look at the veneration people have for jfk and the second roosevelt.

[Pagan]

I’m not sure Abbey ever tried to “legitimize the system”. He was a true anarchist in the sense of never being ruled, never being pigeonholed; even those groups or causes he espoused weren’t sure what his position was on any given day. 

In a very real sense, he epitomized his own quote: if he couldn’t control himself, how could anyone else be expected to control him?