Maxioms Pet

X
  •   22  /  21  

    It is a dangerous and idle dream to think that the state can become rule by philosophers turned kings or scientists turned commissars. For if philosophers become kings or scientists commissars, they become politicians, and the powers given to the state are powers given to men who are rulers of states, men subject to all the limitations and temptations of their dangerous craft. Unless this is borne in mind, there will be a dangerous optimistic tendency to sweep aside doubts and fears as irrelevant, since, in the state that the projectors have in mind, power will be exercised by men of a wisdom and degree of moral virtue that we have not yet seen. It won't. It will be exercised by men who will be men first and rulers next and scientists and saints long after.

Share to:

You May Also Like   /   View all maxioms

  ( comments )
  6  /  19  

We once worried that democracy could not survive if an undereducated populace knew too little. Now we worry if it read more

We once worried that democracy could not survive if an undereducated populace knew too little. Now we worry if it can survive us knowing too much.

  ( comments )
  9  /  21  

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.

  ( comments )
  13  /  15  

The military don't start wars. Politicians start wars.

The military don't start wars. Politicians start wars.

  ( comments )
  7  /  18  

Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny.

Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny.

  ( comments )
  26  /  26  

All that Communism needs to make it successful is someone to feed and clothe it.

All that Communism needs to make it successful is someone to feed and clothe it.

  ( comments )
  20  /  16  

A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.

A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.

  ( comments )
  13  /  21  

[expressing John Locke's view]...whenever anyone threatens any other innocent human in a way that makes manifest an ignorance or disregard read more

[expressing John Locke's view]...whenever anyone threatens any other innocent human in a way that makes manifest an ignorance or disregard of the fundamental equality as regards the right to self-preservation, the creature in human shape who acts in this way is to be treated by any and all other rational humans as a wild, clever, and therefore very dangerous animal, to be destroyed (if necessary) in order to safeguard the rest.

  ( comments )
  6  /  12  

I hereby resign this office of president of the United States.

I hereby resign this office of president of the United States.

  ( comments )
  9  /  13  

Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact.

Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact.

Maxioms Web Pet