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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
We must think of human progress, not as of something going on in the race in general, but as something read more
We must think of human progress, not as of something going on in the race in general, but as something going on in a small minority, perpetually beleaguered in a few walled towns. Now and then the horde of barbarians outside breaks through, and we have an armed effort to halt the process. That is, we have a Reformation, a French Revolution, a war for democracy, a Great Awakening. The minority is decimated and driven to cover. But a few survive- and a few are enough to carry on.
The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is
truly free. First, society begins by read more
The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is
truly free. First, society begins by trying to beat you up. If
this fails, they try to poison you. If this fails too, the
finish by loading honors on your head.
If everything's under control, you're going too slow.
If everything's under control, you're going too slow.
The pen is the tongue of the mind.
The pen is the tongue of the mind.
Humiliating to human pride as it may be, we must recognize that the advance and even the preservation of civilization read more
Humiliating to human pride as it may be, we must recognize that the advance and even the preservation of civilization are dependent upon a maximum of opportunity for accidents to happen.
When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?
When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?
The rule seems to be that those who find no difficulty in deceiving themselves are easily deceived by others. They read more
The rule seems to be that those who find no difficulty in deceiving themselves are easily deceived by others. They are easily persuaded and led.
Society knows perfectly well how to kill a man and has methods more subtle than death
Society knows perfectly well how to kill a man and has methods more subtle than death
