However human, envy is certainly not one of the sources of discontent that a free society can eliminate. It is probably one of the essential conditions for the preservation of such a society that we do not countenance envy, not sanction its demands by camouflaging it as social justice, but treat it, in the words of John Stuart Mill, as "the most anti-social and evil of all passions.
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Thought control, like birth control, is best undertaken as long as possible before the fact. Many grown-ups will obstinately persist, read more
Thought control, like birth control, is best undertaken as long as possible before the fact. Many grown-ups will obstinately persist, if only now and then, in composing small strings of sentences in their heads and achieving at least momentary logic. This probably cannot be prevented, but we have learned how to minimize the consequences by arranging that such grown-ups will be unable to pursue that logic very far. If they were at home in the technology of writing, there's no telling how much social disorder they would cause by thinking things out at length.Our schools have chosen to cut this danger off as close to the root as possible, thus taking measures to preclude not only the birth of thought but its conception. They give the pill to even the youngest children, but just to be on the safe side, they give it to everybody else, too, especially all would-be schoolteachers.
What are we when we are alone? Some, when they are alone, cease to exist.
What are we when we are alone? Some, when they are alone, cease to exist.
Truth...never comes into the world but like a Bastard, to the ignominy of him that brought her forth.
Truth...never comes into the world but like a Bastard, to the ignominy of him that brought her forth.
It seems, in fact, as though the second half of a man's life is made up of nothing, but the read more
It seems, in fact, as though the second half of a man's life is made up of nothing, but the habits he has accumulated during the first half.
Simplicity is the outward sign and symbol of depth of thought.
Simplicity is the outward sign and symbol of depth of thought.
Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.
Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.
Dreaming permits each and everyone of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.
Dreaming permits each and everyone of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.
Laugh and the world laughs with you; snore and you sleep alone.
Laugh and the world laughs with you; snore and you sleep alone.
We envy those whose possessions or achievements are a reflection on our own. They are our neighbors and equals. It read more
We envy those whose possessions or achievements are a reflection on our own. They are our neighbors and equals. It is they, above all who make plain the nature of our failure.
