Heaven is the work of the best and kindest men and women. Hell is the work of prigs, pedants and professional truth-tellers. The world is an attempt to make the best of both.
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler; Part II: Elementary Morality (1912).
When you consider socialism, do not fool yourself about its nature. Remember that there is no such dichotomy as “human rights” versus “property rights.” No human rights can exist without property rights.
Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness (1964).
Ma fin est mon commencement
Et mon commencement ma fin.
My end is my beginning, and my beginning my end.
Guillaume de Machaut, “Ma fin est mon commencement,” line 1; translation from Donald N. Ferguson, A History of Musical Thought (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, [1935] 1948) p. 94.
An individualist is a man who says: ‘I’ll not run anyone’s life — nor let anyone run mine. I will not rule nor be ruled. I will not be a master nor a slave. I will not sacrifice myself to anyone — nor sacrifice anyone to myself.’
Ayn Rand, Textbook of Americanism (1946).
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing.
What is called the Progress of Civilization has been marked and conditioned at every step by an extension of the opportunities, a greater facility in the use of the means, a more eager searching for proper expedients, and a higher certainty in the securing of the returns, of mutual exchanges among men.
En effet, l’histoire n’est que le tableau des crimes et des malheurs.
Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.
Voltaire, L’Ingénu, ch. 10 (1767).
Samuel Butler, Erewhon (1872), chapter 26.
Happily common sense, though she is by nature the gentlest creature living, when she feels the knife at her throat, is apt to develop unexpected powers of resistance, and to send doctrinaires flying, even when they have bound her down and think they have her at their mercy.
“Did the seed of tyranny ever bear good fruit? And can you expect liberty to undo in a moment what oppression has been doing for ages?” (From anarchistquotes.com)
Voltairine de Cleyre
Human judges can show mercy. But against the laws of nature, there is no appeal.
Arthur C. Clarke, “Maelstrom II,” Playboy (April 1965).