William Allen White Quote

“You can have no wise laws nor free enforcement of wise laws unless there is free expression of the wisdom of the people -- and, alas, their folly with it. But if there is freedom, folly will die of its own poison, and the wisdom will survive.”

~ William Allen White

The Editor and His People, 1924

Ratings and Comments


Ron, Montrose, CO

The oppressive folly exists primarily within the Beltway. It needs to die of it own poison.

E Archer, NYC

Let's hope so...

Waffler, Smith

We have experienced this free expression so greatly this past Congressional year with the wide spread discussion of Health Care, Wall Street reform etcetera. The folly of our broken health care and financial systems has died. The secretive politics of the Bush-Cheney era has given way to the wisdom of the people. What he is talking about here is transparency in government. We are moving in the right direction. Now on to taxes and the debt.

Mike, Norwalk

Waffler, well spoken, identical to what a vile, immoral, and demonic dictator would say. It would be almost laughable if not so horrific, concerning your glee at the death of this once free land with the poverty, slavery, death, pain, anger and anguish that is so exponentially building (being in harmony with your comments and, you thinking that is the right way). The secretive politics of the Bush-Cheney era is just politics as usual with Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench, the assassin, with his Czars and criminal posy. Law enforcement is a despotic oxymoron, especially apparent in a representative republic based on the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God. There is no such thing as wise laws when such is based on the wisdom of the people. That is a self aggrandizing government of men, not a freedom expressing government of law. Wisdom is the discovery of law and then, putting into place codes, ordinances, regulations, rules, statutes, etc. that are in harmony therewith. The whole first portion of the quote is folly. I'm with Archer, I hope where there is freedom, folly will die of its own poison, and wisdom will survive

jim k, Austin,Tx

I still think that Waffler is putting us all on as no one can be that ignorant, or can they.

RBESRQ
  • Reply
RBESRQ    7/27/10

Divine... ten stars

Anonymous, Nelson

Ah yes ...... freedom, a paradise lost. How wise is that?

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