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“In the absence of any objectifiable criteria of right or wrong, good or evil, the self and its feelings become our only moral guide. [...] There each individual is entitled to his or her own "bit of space" and is utterly free within its boundaries. [...]. But while everyone may be entitled to his or her won private space, only those who have enough money can, in fact, afford to purchase the private property required to do their own thing. As a consequence, economic inequalities neccessarily delimit our individual "rights" to self-fulfillment - or unjustly violate those rights.”
― Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life
― Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life
“There is no doubt that in exchanging a self-centered for a selfless life we gain enormously in self-esteem. The vanity of the selfless, even those who practice utmost humility, is boundless.”
― The True Believer
― The True Believer
“You learn who you are only by making yourself accountable to the judgment of others.”
― Hannah's Child: A Theologian's Memoir
― Hannah's Child: A Theologian's Memoir
“Knowledge forbidden?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know?
Can it be death?”
― Paradise Lost
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know?
Can it be death?”
― Paradise Lost
“The same benefits misleadingly associated with religion — security, spiritual comfort, dogmatic relief from doubt — are thought to flow from a therapeutic politics of identity. In effect, identity politics has come to serve as a substitute for religion — or at least for the feeling of self-righteousness that is so commonly confused with religion.
These developments shed further light on the decline of democratic debate. ‘Diversity’ — a slogan that looks attractive on the face of it — has come to mean the opposite of what it appears to mean. In practice, diversity turns out to legitimize a new dogmatism, in which rival minorities take shelter behind a set of beliefs impervious to rational discussion.”
― The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy
These developments shed further light on the decline of democratic debate. ‘Diversity’ — a slogan that looks attractive on the face of it — has come to mean the opposite of what it appears to mean. In practice, diversity turns out to legitimize a new dogmatism, in which rival minorities take shelter behind a set of beliefs impervious to rational discussion.”
― The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy
J.R.R. Tolkien
— 3853 members
— last activity Dec 26, 2025 03:51AM
Discussion, recommendations, and all-over appreciation for Britain's own myth maker, Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. ...more
Kurt Vonnegut Fan Club
— 83 members
— last activity Feb 06, 2025 10:31PM
A place to discuss the works, philosophies, and life of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. "Kurt is up in heaven now." ...more
The Vonnegut Reading Group
— 411 members
— last activity Jan 28, 2023 07:44AM
Reading every Kurt Vonnegut novel and short story collection....in the order is was written!
Brett’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Brett’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
1,083 books
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123 friends
237 books
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236 friends
583 books
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22 friends
157 books
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424 friends
1,110 books
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131 friends
1,321 books
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147 friends
135 books
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19 friends
1,127 books
|
28 friends
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