“A writer who says that there are no truths, or that all truth is 'merely relative,' is asking you not to believe him. So don’t. Deconstruction deconstructs itself, and disappears up its own behind, leaving only a disembodied smile and a faint smell of sulphur.”
― Modern Philosophy: An Introduction and Survey
― Modern Philosophy: An Introduction and Survey
“…those who deny that some being is ‘contingent’ should be exposed to torments until they concede that it is possible for them not to be tormented.”
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“The man of conservative temperament believes that a known good is not lightly to be surrendered for an unknown better.”
― Rationalism in Politics and other essays
― Rationalism in Politics and other essays
“Social traditions exist because they enable a society to reproduce itself. Destroy them heedlessly and you remove the guarantee offered by one generation to the next.”
― Conservatism: An Invitation to the Great Tradition
― Conservatism: An Invitation to the Great Tradition
“Conservatism starts from a sentiment that all mature people can readily share: the sentiment that good things are easily destroyed, but not easily created. This is especially true of the good things that come to us as collective assets: peace, freedom, law, civility, public spirit, the security of property and family life, in all of which we depend on the cooperation of others while having no means singlehandedly to obtain it. In respect of such things, the work of destruction is quick, easy and exhilarating; the work of creation slow, laborious and dull. That is one of the lessons of the twentieth century. It is also one reason why conservatives suffer such a disadvantage when it comes to public opinion. Their position is true but boring, that of their opponents exciting but false.”
― How to be a Conservative
― How to be a Conservative
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