Thomas Sowell ( 10 of 95 )
The more adaptability exists for a given kind of decision, the less risky it is to make plans for the read more
The more adaptability exists for a given kind of decision, the less risky it is to make plans for the future, and therefore the more likely it is that more people will make more plans in such areas.
Social values in general are incrementally variable: neither safety, diversity, rational articulation, nor morality is categorically a "good thing" to read more
Social values in general are incrementally variable: neither safety, diversity, rational articulation, nor morality is categorically a "good thing" to have more of, without limits. All are subject to diminishing returns, and ultimately negative returns.
One of the peculiarities of the American Revolution was that its leaders pinned their hopes on the organization of decision-making read more
One of the peculiarities of the American Revolution was that its leaders pinned their hopes on the organization of decision-making units, the structuring of their incentives, and the counterbalancing of the units against one another, rather than on the more usual (and more exciting) principle of substituting "the good guys" for "the bad guys.".
It's amazing how much panic one honest man can spread among a multitude of hypocrites.
It's amazing how much panic one honest man can spread among a multitude of hypocrites.
American prosperity and American free enterprise are both highly unusual in the world, and we should not overlook the possibility read more
American prosperity and American free enterprise are both highly unusual in the world, and we should not overlook the possibility that the two are connected.
The celebration of unbounded individualism means, beyond some point, the acceptance of force- either private (crime, riot, vigilanteism) or public read more
The celebration of unbounded individualism means, beyond some point, the acceptance of force- either private (crime, riot, vigilanteism) or public (authoritarianism).
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.
The desire of businessmen for profits is what drives prices down unless forcibly prevented from engaging in price competition, usually read more
The desire of businessmen for profits is what drives prices down unless forcibly prevented from engaging in price competition, usually by governmental activity.
If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.
If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.
Nothing as mundane as mere evidence can be allowed to threaten a vision so deeply satisfying.
Nothing as mundane as mere evidence can be allowed to threaten a vision so deeply satisfying.
