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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A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.
A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.
Policies are judged by their consequences, but crusades are judged by how good they make the crusaders feel.
Policies are judged by their consequences, but crusades are judged by how good they make the crusaders feel.
The better part of statesmanship might be to know clearly and precisely what not to do.
The better part of statesmanship might be to know clearly and precisely what not to do.
Confronted with the choice, the American people would choose the policeman's truncheon over the anarchist's bomb.
Confronted with the choice, the American people would choose the policeman's truncheon over the anarchist's bomb.
Envy plus rhetoric equals "social justice.".
Envy plus rhetoric equals "social justice.".
Justice is better than chivalry if we cannot have both.
Justice is better than chivalry if we cannot have both.
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.
Neither "property" nor the value of property is a physical thing. Property is a set of defined options...It is that read more
Neither "property" nor the value of property is a physical thing. Property is a set of defined options...It is that set of options which has economic value...It is the options, and not the physical things, which are the "property" - economically as well as legally...But because the public tends to think of property as tangible, physical things, this opens the way politically for government confiscation of property by forcibly taking away options while leaving the physical objects untouched.
It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not read more
It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.
