Rousseau had it backwards. We are NOT born free. We are born in the chains of the random and the reflexive, and are ignorant and unreasonable by simple nature. We must learn to be free, to organize the random and detect the reflexive, to acquire the knowledge of particulars and the powers of reason. The examined life is impossible if we cannot examine, order, classify, define, distinguish, always in minute particulars.
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The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes.
The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes.
The disposition of all power is to abuses, nor does it at all mend the matter that its possessors are read more
The disposition of all power is to abuses, nor does it at all mend the matter that its possessors are a majority.
Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed.
Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed.
The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.
The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.
What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?
What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?
...this is precisely the purpose of censorship- not only to block unwanted views, but to keep people who are unhappy read more
...this is precisely the purpose of censorship- not only to block unwanted views, but to keep people who are unhappy from knowing how many millions of others share their unhappiness; to keep the dormant opposition from awakening to its own developing strength.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.
Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and read more
Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it's important.
All of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small read more
All of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small an influence reason and honest good will exert upon events in the political field.
