Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2020-07-15 Jul 15, 2020He is free who knows how to keep in his own hand the power to decide, at each step, the course of his life, and who lives in a society which does not block the exercise of that power.~ Salvador de MadariagaUltimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.~ Elie WieselThe most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost invariably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And if he is not romantic personally, he is apt to spread discontent among those who are.~ H. L. Mencken Jul 14, 2020What assurance have we that our masters will or can keep the promise which induced us to sell ourselves? Let us not be deceived by phrases about 'Man taking charge of his own destiny'. All that can really happen is that some men will take charge of the destiny of the others. They will be simply men; none perfect; some greedy, cruel and dishonest. The more completely we are planned the more powerful they will be. Have we discovered some new reason why, this time, power should not corrupt as it has done before?~ C. S. LewisThat erroneous assumption is to the effect that the aim of public education is to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence, and so make them fit to discharge the duties of citizenship in an enlightened and independent manner. Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all, it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States, whatever the pretensions of politicians, pedagogues and other such mountebanks, and that is its aim everywhere else.~ H. L. MenckenIn any free society, the conflict between social conformity and individual liberty is permanent, unresolvable, and necessary.~ Kathleen Norris Jul 13, 2020[I]f we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.~ Thomas JeffersonI know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.~ Thomas JeffersonMy reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. That government is best which governs least.~ Thomas Jefferson Jul 10, 2020A sure sign of a genius is that all of the dunces are in a confederacy against him.~ Frank Lloyd WrightFreedom of movement is the very essence of our free society -- once the right to travel is curtailed, all other rights suffer.~ Justice William O. DouglasThis, then, is freedom in the external life of man -- that he is independent of the arbitrary power of his fellows.~ Ludwig von Mises Jul 9, 2020Progress means movement in a desired direction, and we do not all desire the same things for our species.~ C. S. LewisIf a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.~ Henry David ThoreauThe class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment, may be viewed as the most truly independent and happy. They are more: they are the best basis of public liberty, and the strongest bulwark of public safety. It follows, that the greater the proportion of this class to the whole society, the more free, the more independent, and the more happy must be the society itself.~ James Madison Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print