Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Oswald Spengler Quote “Formerly no one was allowed to think freely; now it is permitted, but no one is capable of it any more. Now people want to think only what they are supposed to think, and this they consider freedom.” ~ Oswald Spengler (1880-1936)The Decline of the West, 1926 Conformity , Free Thought , Uniformity Ratings and Comments Reply Terry Berg, Occidental, CA 2/6/06 It's the tribal instinct toward spouting the party line - the same instinct that impels the insecure towards religion or towards following someone like Hitler or to imagine, in the case of some tribes, that cannibalism is a perfectly natural part of life. Are YOU in the 'in' crowd? Reply David L. Rosenthal, Hollywood 2/6/06 It is a mental disorder, such as liberalism, that prevents many people from thinking for themselves. Reply Joe, Rochester, MI 2/6/06 Reply Dick, Fort Worth 2/6/06 Mr. Berg's comment is quite on the mark. He might have added Bush's name to bring the point even closer to home. Reply Terry Berg, Occidental, CA 2/7/06 Dick, I thought I'd keep the references such that I might avoid having the current venomous climate blind the reader. Currently the mere mention of the name 'Bush' seems to addle brains on both sided of the ideological schism – before they have a chance to think. When it’s too close to home, it’s more difficult to see the forest for the trees. Good point though. SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Oswald Spengler quote is found in these categories: Conformity quotes Free Thought quotes Uniformity quotes About Oswald Spengler Bio of Oswald Spengler Quotations by Oswald Spengler Books by/about Oswald Spengler Oswald Spengler videos Oswald Spengler on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Oswald Spengler