From the fact that people are very different it follows that, if we treat them equally, the result must be inequality in their actual position, and that the only way to place them in an equal position would be to treat them differently. Equality before the law and material equality are therefore not only different but are in conflict which each other; and we can achieve either one or the other, but not both at the same time.
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...democracy can be interpreted to assert not only equality before the law but also essentialistic identity in all respects. This read more
...democracy can be interpreted to assert not only equality before the law but also essentialistic identity in all respects. This is expressed in the claim, "All men are created equal," which is something very different from the statement, "All men have equal rights and are equal before the law." Anyone who believes in the genetic uniqueness of every individual thereby believes in the conclusion, "No two individuals are created equal.".
Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is read more
Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is doubly dangerous.
It is the fundamental theory of all the more recent American law...that the average citizen is half-witted, and hence not read more
It is the fundamental theory of all the more recent American law...that the average citizen is half-witted, and hence not to be trusted to either his own devices or his own thoughts.
Ideology has very little to do with "consciousness" -- it is profoundly unconscious.
Ideology has very little to do with "consciousness" -- it is profoundly unconscious.
Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.
Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.
Envy plus rhetoric equals "social justice.".
Envy plus rhetoric equals "social justice.".
A race of altruists is necessarily a race of slaves. A race of free men is necessarily a race of read more
A race of altruists is necessarily a race of slaves. A race of free men is necessarily a race of egoists.
Making capitalism out of socialism is like making eggs out of an omelet.
Making capitalism out of socialism is like making eggs out of an omelet.
None can love freedom but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license, which never hath more scope than read more
None can love freedom but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license, which never hath more scope than under tyrants.
