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.
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People who have time on their hands will inevitably waste the time of people who have work to do.
People who have time on their hands will inevitably waste the time of people who have work to do.
Where intellectuals have played a role in history, it has not been so much by whispering words of advice into read more
Where intellectuals have played a role in history, it has not been so much by whispering words of advice into the ears of political overlords as by contributing to the vast and powerful currents of conceptions and misconceptions that sweep human action along.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
Quite often the social doctors become part of the disease.
Quite often the social doctors become part of the disease.
If there is no struggle there is no progress.
If there is no struggle there is no progress.
Philosophy consists very largely of one philosopher arguing that all other philosophers are jackasses. He usually proves it, and I read more
Philosophy consists very largely of one philosopher arguing that all other philosophers are jackasses. He usually proves it, and I should add that he also usually proves that he is one himself.
Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.
Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.
Human civilization is not something achieved against nature; it is rather the outcome of the working of the innate qualities read more
Human civilization is not something achieved against nature; it is rather the outcome of the working of the innate qualities of man.
No one in this world, so far as I know- and I have researched the records for years, and employed read more
No one in this world, so far as I know- and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help me- has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.
