CS Lewis still wins the record for best summary of things today:
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.
Nietzsche also did a good job of summing up today's insanity.
God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?
A democracy nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people taking away the rights of the other 49%. — Thomas Jefferson
It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing, than to believe what is wrong. — Thomas Jefferson
It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather, an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men. — Samuel Adams
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. — Thomas Paine
If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so. — Thomas Jefferson
I have so many quotes saved that I really enjoy. I know living back then came with some serious difficulties, as well as the lack of many modern conveniences; however, it must have been a real pleasure to gather and discuss philosophy and such in free time.
And what would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?...
And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?
This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast — man's laws, not God's — and if you cut them down — and you're just the man to do it — do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?
Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
It can, yes. However, that's very unlikely if people are raised with a strong moral and ethical foundation. That's how I see it at least.
Sadly, that seems to be sorely lacking these days. A huge amount of children are being raised by the soft light of a glowing screen that their parents put in their hands to keep them out of their hair. Children are being raised on a nonstop diet of vacuous consumerism. It's seriously disappointing.
I feel like its poison to let corporations and entertainment culture raise children and inculcate into their minds whatever their beliefs are.
At the very least, parents need to take a much more active role in ensuring their children have a very strong moral and ethical foundation that's built on good values. They also need to make sure they don't end up like solipsistic activist nutsjobs who try to force crap onto others because they never learned empathy.
I'm not even full blown anti-democracy as I believe representative government, if not a Lower House, is very useful for involving the public in the political system and preventing alienation.
However, maybe universal suffrage wasn't quite the way to go about it...
Universal suffrage is a front for oligarchy. Saying that anyone can vote is pretty on paper, just like saying women are equal to men. Reality, however, is not pretty, and trying to beautify a beast leaves you mauled on the floor.
I wouldn't call it a "front" more so an unfortunate side effect. These ideas sound great in the ivory towers but when they impact reality, it's a bit messy.
One form of equality that I think is good is equality before the law, though. I do think its only fair that everyone is entitled to a trial by a jury of their peers, and legislating on unalterable characteristics is a bit unforgiving, if not cruel.
Have to go with Ahaus on this one, it took me a while to accept that it has always been a front. It's part of the modern day bread and circuses. Why have we not had multiple revolutions since the civil war? Are we morally superior to our elders? Did we figure out a totally free system that no longer needs Jefferson's regular tree watering? No it's because they've devised a game where we think we are replacing government every few years, so it pacifies us into outsourcing our civic responsibility to them.
I will agree on your other points, if only for social cohesion and stability. Obviously democratic principles are important on a small scale, like your local city council, or the PTA. It can work in a small country with a homogeneous population. It's less important who rules than how much power they're allowed to wield. If we sufficiently limit the scope of government, and keep it limited through not letting them take our money, it doesn't matter if we have a pure democracy or a lifetime dictator. They can make whatever silly decrees they like as long as it doesn't affect me. If anything politics is probably a good sink for sociopathic narcissists - just keep them trapped in their corrupt bubble and unable to affect much change.
("Fair courts" are another myth however, and IMO should be replaced with competitive legal systems.)
I know we're all posting quotes and such, but I'll point out there's a reason that old sayings stick around; they tend to be true. In this case, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
CS Lewis still wins the record for best summary of things today:
Nietzsche also did a good job of summing up today's insanity.
Because people see it as a proclamation, not a lament.
I have so many quotes saved that I really enjoy. I know living back then came with some serious difficulties, as well as the lack of many modern conveniences; however, it must have been a real pleasure to gather and discuss philosophy and such in free time.
One to add to this excellent collection:
Sir Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons.
I like the Sam Addams quote, only, it also holds true to minorities pushing evil.
It can, yes. However, that's very unlikely if people are raised with a strong moral and ethical foundation. That's how I see it at least.
Sadly, that seems to be sorely lacking these days. A huge amount of children are being raised by the soft light of a glowing screen that their parents put in their hands to keep them out of their hair. Children are being raised on a nonstop diet of vacuous consumerism. It's seriously disappointing.
I feel like its poison to let corporations and entertainment culture raise children and inculcate into their minds whatever their beliefs are.
At the very least, parents need to take a much more active role in ensuring their children have a very strong moral and ethical foundation that's built on good values. They also need to make sure they don't end up like solipsistic activist nutsjobs who try to force crap onto others because they never learned empathy.
I'm not even full blown anti-democracy as I believe representative government, if not a Lower House, is very useful for involving the public in the political system and preventing alienation.
However, maybe universal suffrage wasn't quite the way to go about it...
Universal suffrage is a front for oligarchy. Saying that anyone can vote is pretty on paper, just like saying women are equal to men. Reality, however, is not pretty, and trying to beautify a beast leaves you mauled on the floor.
I wouldn't call it a "front" more so an unfortunate side effect. These ideas sound great in the ivory towers but when they impact reality, it's a bit messy.
One form of equality that I think is good is equality before the law, though. I do think its only fair that everyone is entitled to a trial by a jury of their peers, and legislating on unalterable characteristics is a bit unforgiving, if not cruel.
Have to go with Ahaus on this one, it took me a while to accept that it has always been a front. It's part of the modern day bread and circuses. Why have we not had multiple revolutions since the civil war? Are we morally superior to our elders? Did we figure out a totally free system that no longer needs Jefferson's regular tree watering? No it's because they've devised a game where we think we are replacing government every few years, so it pacifies us into outsourcing our civic responsibility to them.
I will agree on your other points, if only for social cohesion and stability. Obviously democratic principles are important on a small scale, like your local city council, or the PTA. It can work in a small country with a homogeneous population. It's less important who rules than how much power they're allowed to wield. If we sufficiently limit the scope of government, and keep it limited through not letting them take our money, it doesn't matter if we have a pure democracy or a lifetime dictator. They can make whatever silly decrees they like as long as it doesn't affect me. If anything politics is probably a good sink for sociopathic narcissists - just keep them trapped in their corrupt bubble and unable to affect much change.
("Fair courts" are another myth however, and IMO should be replaced with competitive legal systems.)
The mistake isn't letting females vote, it's letting actual retards vote. As if they're equal to any living thing.
I know we're all posting quotes and such, but I'll point out there's a reason that old sayings stick around; they tend to be true. In this case, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
We need to replace all literature and "social studies" classes with teachings from the great masters.