Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2005-08-29 Aug 29, 2005The misapprehension springs from the fact that the learned jurists, deceiving themselves as well as others, depict in their books an ideal of government -- not as it really is, an assembly of men who oppress their fellow-citizens, but in accordance with the scientific postulate, as a body of men who act as the representatives of the rest of the nation. They have gone on repeating this to others so long that they have ended by believing it themselves, and they really seem to think that justice is one of the duties of governments. History, however, shows us that governments, as seen from the reign of Caesar to those of the two Napoleons and Prince Bismarck, are in their very essence a violation of justice; a man or a body of men having at command an army of trained soldiers, deluded creatures who are ready for any violence, and through whose agency they govern the State, will have no keen sense of the obligation of justice. Therefore governments will never consent to diminish the number of those well-trained and submissive servants, who constitute their power and influence.~ Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi Aug 28, 2005Political correctness is really a subjective list put together by the few to rule the many -- a list of things one must think, say, or do. It affronts the right of the individual to establish his or her own beliefs.~ Mark BerleyThere never was an idea stated that woke men out of their stupid indifference but its originator was spoken of as a crank.~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.A free man is he that, in those things which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to do what he has a will to.~ Thomas HobbesThe liberal insists that the individual must remain so supreme as to make the State his servant.~ Wayne Morse Aug 27, 2005In towns it is impossible to prevent men from assembling, getting excited together and forming sudden passionate resolves. Towns are like great meeting houses with all the inhabitants as members. In them the people wield immense influence over their magistrates and often carry their desires into execution without intermediaries.~ Alexis de TocquevilleIt is always the task of the intellectual to “think otherwise.” This is not just a perverse idiosyncrasy. It is an absolutely essential feature of a society.~ Harvey CoxHere the great art lies, to discern in what the law is to bid restraint and punishment, and in what things persuasion only is to work.~ John MiltonThe priceless heritage of our society is the unrestricted constitutional right of each member to think as he will. Thought control is a copyright of totalitarianism, and we have no claim to it.~ Justice Robert H. Jackson Aug 26, 2005No duty, however, binds us to these so-called laws, whose corrupting influence menaces what is noblest in our being...~ Benjamin ConstantA shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.~ Carl Gustav JungThe [classical] liberal, of course, does not deny that there are some superior people -- he is not an egalitarian -- but he denies that anyone has authority to decide who these superior people are.~ Friedrich August von Hayek Aug 25, 2005How should it happen that the individual should be without rights, but the combination of individuals should possess unlimited rights?~ Auberon HerbertAgainst individualism, the fascist conception is for the State; and it is for the individual in so far as he coincides with the State, which is the conscience and universal will of man...~ Benito MussoliniThe combination is here to stay. Individualism has gone, never to return.~ John D. Rockefeller, Sr. Aug 24, 2005I never hurt nobody but myself and that's nobody's business but my own.~ Billie HolidayGentlemen, the time is coming when there will be two great classes, Socialists, and Anarchists. The Anarchists want the government to be nothing, and the Socialists want government to be everything. There can be no greater contrast. Well, the time will come when there will be only these two great parties, the Anarchists representing the laissez faire doctrine and the Socialists representing the extreme view on the other side, and when that time comes I am an Anarchist.~ William Graham SumnerBy pursuing his own interest [every individual] frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.~ Adam Smith Aug 23, 2005The new puritans have been highly successful. All of the preconditions for new prohibitions on alcohol and tobacco are in place. ... Indeed, the future agenda of the federal government has already been established to outlaw alcohol and tobacco in the near future. ... If current trends persist, America will be moving toward stricter prohibitions, greater restrictions, and more centralized control over consumption. This represents an erosion of liberty at its most fundamental level.~ Mark ThorntonFor this future emancipation, we have to rule out ideologies that aim at reinforcing the state, the police and controls in general, and at reducing liberty.~ André ThirionI am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample underfoot.~ Horace Greeley Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print