For Americans war is almost all of the time a nuisance, and military skill is a luxury like Mah-Jongg. But read more

For Americans war is almost all of the time a nuisance, and military skill is a luxury like Mah-Jongg. But when the issue is brought home to them, war becomes as important, for the necessary period, as business or sport. And it is hard to decide which is likely to be the more ominous for the Axis -- an American decision that this is sport, or that it is business. - The American Character.

It is not actual suffering but a taste of better things which excites people to revolt.

It is not actual suffering but a taste of better things which excites people to revolt.

What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?

What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?

Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man.

Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man.

Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed read more

Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.

I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.

I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.

I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies all right. But my damn friends. read more

I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies all right. But my damn friends. They're the ones that keep me walking the floor nights!

It is a dangerous and idle dream to think that the state can become rule by philosophers turned kings or read more

It is a dangerous and idle dream to think that the state can become rule by philosophers turned kings or scientists turned commissars. For if philosophers become kings or scientists commissars, they become politicians, and the powers given to the state are powers given to men who are rulers of states, men subject to all the limitations and temptations of their dangerous craft. Unless this is borne in mind, there will be a dangerous optimistic tendency to sweep aside doubts and fears as irrelevant, since, in the state that the projectors have in mind, power will be exercised by men of a wisdom and degree of moral virtue that we have not yet seen. It won't. It will be exercised by men who will be men first and rulers next and scientists and saints long after.

War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.

War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.