The State always moves slowly and grudgingly towards any purpose that accrues to society's advantage, but moves rapidly and with alacrity towards one that accrues to its own advantage; nor does it ever move towards social purposes on its own initiative, but only under heavy pressure, while its motion towards anti-social purposes is self-sprung.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
A thief believes everybody steals.
A thief believes everybody steals.
Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we've been ignorant of read more
Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we've been ignorant of their value.
Fascism is capitalism in decay.
Fascism is capitalism in decay.
If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve. - On the request that he accept the read more
If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve. - On the request that he accept the Republican presidential nomination.
The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop.
The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop.
It is all very well to talk about being the captain of your soul. It is hard, and only a read more
It is all very well to talk about being the captain of your soul. It is hard, and only a few heroes, saints, and geniuses have been the captains of their souls for any extended period of their lives. Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort which it brings.
The main political problem is how to prevent the police power from becoming tyrannical. This is the meaning of all read more
The main political problem is how to prevent the police power from becoming tyrannical. This is the meaning of all the struggles for liberty.
Perhaps America will one day go fascist democratically, by popular vote.
Perhaps America will one day go fascist democratically, by popular vote.
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.
