The role of the scholar is to destroy chimeras, that of the statesman is to make use of them.
Category: demagogues
Take action for liberty
When the goal of political action is no longer the defense of liberty, no word other than demagoguery can describe the despicable nature of politics.
Empty promises
History has shown that the masses have been quite receptive to the promises of authoritarians which are rarely if ever fulfilled.
Freedom from coercion
Freedom is living without government coercion. So when a politician talks about freedom for this group or that, ask yourself whether he is advocating more government action or less.
The squeaky wheels
It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.
The best argument for small government
The United States was supposed to have a limited government because the founders knew government power attracts demagogues and despots as surely as horse manure attracts horseflies.
Beware the cure
Most of the problems of this country are not nearly as bad as the “solutions” — especially the solutions that politicians come up with during election years.
Helping themselves
When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear. People with careers as ethnic leaders usually tell their followers what they want to hear.
How demagogues work
Intellectuals may like to think of themselves as people who ‘speak truth to power,’ but too often they are people who speak lies to gain power.
Trading down
If we become a people who are willing to give up our money and our freedom in exchange for rhetoric and promises, then nothing can save us.