...Although the political liberty of this country is greater than that of nearly every other civilized nation, its personal liberty is said to be less. In other words, men are thought to be more under the control of extra-legal authorities, and to defer more to those around them, in pursuing even their lawful and innocent occupations, than in almost every other country.
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In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the read more
In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful.
We are as free as and free in exactly the sense that our neuronal processes are free.
We are as free as and free in exactly the sense that our neuronal processes are free.
It is a besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which read more
It is a besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which masses of men exhibit their tyranny.
Oh, I'm not going to do anything to them. The thought that I might will be enough to keep them read more
Oh, I'm not going to do anything to them. The thought that I might will be enough to keep them going.
Every device employed to bolster individual freedom must have as its chief purpose the impairment of the absoluteness of power. read more
Every device employed to bolster individual freedom must have as its chief purpose the impairment of the absoluteness of power. The indications are that such an impairment is brought about not by strengthening the individual and pitting him against the possessors of power, but by distributing and diversifying power and pitting one category or unit of power against the other. Where power is one, the defeated individual, however strong and resourceful, can have no refuge and no recourse.
In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its value is not in its read more
In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its value is not in its taste, but in its effects.
No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.
No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.
The whole art of politics consists in directing rationally the irrationalities of men.
The whole art of politics consists in directing rationally the irrationalities of men.
I wonder how many of the people who profess to believe in the leveling ideas of collectivism and egalitarianism really read more
I wonder how many of the people who profess to believe in the leveling ideas of collectivism and egalitarianism really just believe that they themselves are good for nothing. I mean, how many leftists are animated by a quite reasonable self-loathing? In their hearts they know that they are not going to become scholars or inventors or industrialists or even ordinary good kind people. So they need a way to achieve that smugness for which the left is so justifiably famous. They need a way to achieve self-esteem without merit. Well, there is politics. In an egalitarian world everything will be controlled by politics, and politics requires no merit.
