We are in the process of creating what deserves to be called the idiot culture. Not an idiot sub-culture, which every society has bubbling beneath the surface and which can provide harmless fun; but the culture itself. For the first time, the weird and the stupid and the coarse are becoming our cultural norm, even our cultural ideal.
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The theory of evolution must be considered as a scientific theory, as theory, that is, proposed to explain or systemize read more
The theory of evolution must be considered as a scientific theory, as theory, that is, proposed to explain or systemize a set of facts, and that no one has any claim to be considered as a serious rival to Darwin in the "discovery" of this theory who did not conduct his evolutionary studies upon a reasonably wide basis of facts. To have ideas, apercus, is not enough, and it is the overevalutation of such clever but uncontrolled guesses which is apt to produce the ludicrous fallacy of combination, in which fragments of the final theory are collected from widely scattered sources and are combined in such a way as to impugn the originality of him who was the first to see how such a synthesis was possible.
Whenever the government of the United States shall break up, it will probably be in consequence of a false direction read more
Whenever the government of the United States shall break up, it will probably be in consequence of a false direction having been given to publick opinion. This is the weak point of our defenses, and the part to which the enemies of the system will direct all their attacks. Opinion can be so perverted as to cause the false to seem the true; the enemy, a friend, and the friend, an enemy; the best interests of the nation to appear insignificant, and trifles of moment; in a word, the right the wrong, and the wrong the right.
There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions but whose contribution towards the development of society read more
There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions but whose contribution towards the development of society has been enormous.
We often despise what is most useful to us.
We often despise what is most useful to us.
Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.
Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.
The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it read more
The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new; nor can it keep people persuaded once they have ceased to believe. It penetrates into minds already open, and rather than instill opinion it articulates and justifies opinions already present in the minds of its recipients.
Without speculation there is no good and original observation.
Without speculation there is no good and original observation.
Whatever begins to be tranquil is gobbled up by something not tranquil.
Whatever begins to be tranquil is gobbled up by something not tranquil.
Man can be chained, but he cannot be domesticated.
Man can be chained, but he cannot be domesticated.
