The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity, since the tastes, knowledge, and principles of the majority form read more

The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity, since the tastes, knowledge, and principles of the majority form the tribunal of appeal.

The more I saw of foreign countries the more I loved my own.

The more I saw of foreign countries the more I loved my own.

...there is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs.

...there is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs.

The "private sector" of the economy is, in fact, the voluntary sector; and...the "public sector" is, in fact, the coercive read more

The "private sector" of the economy is, in fact, the voluntary sector; and...the "public sector" is, in fact, the coercive sector.

Freedom released the energies of the masses not by exhilarating but by unbalancing, irritating, and goading.

Freedom released the energies of the masses not by exhilarating but by unbalancing, irritating, and goading.

There is a powerful craving in most of us to see ourselves as instruments in the hands of others and read more

There is a powerful craving in most of us to see ourselves as instruments in the hands of others and thus free ourselves from the responsibility for acts which are prompted by our own questionable inclinations and impulses. Both the strong and the weak grasp at this alibi. The latter hide their malevolence under the virtue of obedience: they acted dishonorably because they had to obey orders. The strong, too, claim absolution by proclaiming themselves the chosen instrument of a higher power- God, history, fate, nation or humanity.

The multitude is always in the wrong.

The multitude is always in the wrong.

If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask for observers from Africa or from read more

If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers.

We should...be able to see that our interest would be best served not by asking the state to promulgate our read more

We should...be able to see that our interest would be best served not by asking the state to promulgate our values but by forbidding the state to promulgate any values at all. If the state can espouse some value that we love, it can, with equal justice, espouse others we do not love.