...regrettable as it may seem to the idealist, the experience of history provides little warrant for the belief that real read more

...regrettable as it may seem to the idealist, the experience of history provides little warrant for the belief that real progress, and the freedom that makes progress possible, lies in unification. For where unification has been able to establish unity of ideas it has usually ended in uniformity, paralysing the growth of new ideas. And where the unification has merely brought about an artificial or imposed unity, its irksomeness has led through discord to disruption.Vitality springs from diversity- which makes for real progress so long as there is mutual toleration, based on the recognition that worse may come from an attempt to suppress differences than from acceptance of them. For this reason, the kind of peace that makes progress possible is best assured by the mutual checks created by a balance of forces- alike in the sphere of internal politics and of international relations.

Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility read more

Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.

There is Jackson with his Virginians, standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will read more

There is Jackson with his Virginians, standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer.

We just did a survey that showed.... something like 65 percent of the [American] people couldn't vote for the First read more

We just did a survey that showed.... something like 65 percent of the [American] people couldn't vote for the First Amendment if it was up for a vote today.

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.

War: a wretched debasement of all the pretenses of civilization.

War: a wretched debasement of all the pretenses of civilization.

If school results were the key to power, girls would be running the world.

If school results were the key to power, girls would be running the world.

He has been called a mediocre man; but this is unwarranted flattery. He was a politician of monumental littleness.

He has been called a mediocre man; but this is unwarranted flattery. He was a politician of monumental littleness.

Voters don't decide issues, they decide who will decide issues.

Voters don't decide issues, they decide who will decide issues.