Political history is largely an account of mass violence and of the expenditure of vast resources to cope with mythical read more

Political history is largely an account of mass violence and of the expenditure of vast resources to cope with mythical fears and hopes.

God himself has no right to be a tyrant.

God himself has no right to be a tyrant.

It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren.

It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren.

The fact is that up to now a free society has not been good for the intellectual. It has neither read more

The fact is that up to now a free society has not been good for the intellectual. It has neither accorded him a superior status to sustain his confidence nor made it easy for him to acquire an unquestioned sense of social usefulness. For he derives his sense of usefulness mainly from directing, instructing, and planning- from minding other people's business- and is bound to feel superfluous and neglected where people believe themselves competent to manage individual and communal affairs, and are impatient of supervision and regulation. A free society is as much a threat to the intellectual's sense of worth as an automated economy is to the workingman's sense of worth. Any social order that can function with a minimum of leadership will be anathema to the intellectual.

A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.

A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.

Never befriend the oppressed unless you are prepared to take on the oppressor.

Never befriend the oppressed unless you are prepared to take on the oppressor.

A recent conversation: Dubya: Look at the clock, time is racing! Cheney: That's the second hand, George.

A recent conversation: Dubya: Look at the clock, time is racing! Cheney: That's the second hand, George.

If we let people see that kind of thing, there would never again be any war.

If we let people see that kind of thing, there would never again be any war.

The modern definition of 'racist' is someone who is winning an argument with a liberal.

The modern definition of 'racist' is someone who is winning an argument with a liberal.