Where intellectuals have played a role in history, it has not been so much by whispering words of advice into read more

Where intellectuals have played a role in history, it has not been so much by whispering words of advice into the ears of political overlords as by contributing to the vast and powerful currents of conceptions and misconceptions that sweep human action along.

Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies.

Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies.

Eagles soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet engines.

Eagles soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet engines.

To love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of read more

To love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues.

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.

Mere facts are for children only. As they begin to point towards conclusions they become food for men.

Mere facts are for children only. As they begin to point towards conclusions they become food for men.

You can shoot the tiger, or stay out of his way, but you cannot pronounce him a vegetarian.

You can shoot the tiger, or stay out of his way, but you cannot pronounce him a vegetarian.

To the extent that philosophical positions both confuse us and close doors to further inquiry, they are likely to be read more

To the extent that philosophical positions both confuse us and close doors to further inquiry, they are likely to be wrong...

There is a fundamental difference between the appeal of a mass movement and the appeal of a practical organization. The read more

There is a fundamental difference between the appeal of a mass movement and the appeal of a practical organization. The practical organization offers opportunities for self-advancement, and its appeal is mainly to self-interest. On the other hand, a mass movement, particularly in its active, revivalist phase, appeals not to those intent on bolstering and advancing a cherished self, but to those who crave to be rid of an unwanted self. A mass movement attracts and holds a following not because it can satisfy the desire for self-advancement, but because it can satisfy the passion for self-renunciation.