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Discontent is likely to be highest when misery is bearable; when conditions have so improved that an ideal state seems read more
Discontent is likely to be highest when misery is bearable; when conditions have so improved that an ideal state seems almost within reach. A grievance is most poignant when almost redressed. De Tocqueville in his researches into the state of society in France before the revolution was struck by the discovery that "in no one of the periods which have followed the Revolution of 1789 has the national prosperity of France augmented more rapidly than it did in the twenty years preceding that event." He is forced to conclude that "the French found their position the more intolerable the better it became.
Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed read more
Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and read more
At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society permits more satirical comment than a repressive, so that if comedy is to function in some way as a safety release then it must obviously deal with these taboo areas. This is part of the responsibility we accord our licensed jesters, that nothing be excused the searching light of comedy. If anything can survive the probe of humour it is clearly of value, and conversely all groups who claim immunity from laughter are claiming special privileges which should not be granted.
The American people want to preserve their American heritage, and they have the quaint belief that public lands belong to read more
The American people want to preserve their American heritage, and they have the quaint belief that public lands belong to them as much as to the people of the state where the lands are located.
Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it.
Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it.
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.
When the people have no tyrant, their own public opinion becomes one.
When the people have no tyrant, their own public opinion becomes one.
I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.
I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.
In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its value is not in its read more
In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its value is not in its taste, but in its effects.
