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Implicit in the activist conception of government is the assumption that you can take the good things in a complex read more
Implicit in the activist conception of government is the assumption that you can take the good things in a complex system for granted, and just improve the things that are not so good. What is lacking in this conception is any sense that a society, an institution, or even a single human being, is an intricate system of fragile inter-relationships, whose complexities are little understood and easily destabilized.
Better mad with the rest of the world than wise alone.
Better mad with the rest of the world than wise alone.
Children sweeten labours; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the care of life; but they mitigate the remembrance read more
Children sweeten labours; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the care of life; but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity of generation is common to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works, are proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men; which have sought to express the images of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed.
From the saintly and single-minded idealist to the fanatic is often but a step.
From the saintly and single-minded idealist to the fanatic is often but a step.
Power concedes nothing without a demand.
Power concedes nothing without a demand.
Laughter to begin with was probably glee at the misfortunes of others. The baring of the teeth in laughter hints read more
Laughter to begin with was probably glee at the misfortunes of others. The baring of the teeth in laughter hints at its savage ancestry. Animals have no malice, hence also no laughter. They never savor the sudden glory of Schadenfreude. It was its infectious quality that made of laughter a medium of mutuality.
When an elephant is in trouble even a frog will kick him.
When an elephant is in trouble even a frog will kick him.
There is an accumulative cruelty in a number of men, though none in particular are ill-natured.
There is an accumulative cruelty in a number of men, though none in particular are ill-natured.
There is only one step from fanaticism to barbarism.
There is only one step from fanaticism to barbarism.
