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.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
One of the most fashionable notions of our times is that social problems like poverty and oppression breed wars. Most read more
One of the most fashionable notions of our times is that social problems like poverty and oppression breed wars. Most wars, however, are started by well-fed people with time on their hands to dream up half-baked ideologies or grandiose ambitions, and to nurse real or imagined grievances.
I wonder how many of the people who profess to believe in the leveling ideas of collectivism and egalitarianism really read more
I wonder how many of the people who profess to believe in the leveling ideas of collectivism and egalitarianism really just believe that they themselves are good for nothing. I mean, how many leftists are animated by a quite reasonable self-loathing? In their hearts they know that they are not going to become scholars or inventors or industrialists or even ordinary good kind people. So they need a way to achieve that smugness for which the left is so justifiably famous. They need a way to achieve self-esteem without merit. Well, there is politics. In an egalitarian world everything will be controlled by politics, and politics requires no merit.
...if we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular read more
...if we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion.
The New Deal began, like the Salvation Army, by promising to save humanity. It ended, again like the Salvation Army, read more
The New Deal began, like the Salvation Army, by promising to save humanity. It ended, again like the Salvation Army, by running flop-houses and disturbing the peace.
The secret of getting things done is to act!
The secret of getting things done is to act!
The essence of democracy is not that everyone makes and administers laws but that lawgivers and rulers should be dependent read more
The essence of democracy is not that everyone makes and administers laws but that lawgivers and rulers should be dependent on the people's will in such a way that they may be peaceably changed if conflict occurs.
Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.
Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.
A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward.
A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward.
Taxes are not levied for the benefit of the taxed.
Taxes are not levied for the benefit of the taxed.
