It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.
– George Washington
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Samizdata quote of the dayJuly 6th, 2010 |
 7 comments to Samizdata quote of the day |
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What a fine thinker! You will not find any such today, especially in mean-spirited Britain.
Verily, verity, they did verbalise in better style in days of Olde. It will be found that rich men were given a good education, and learned many long words, before being released upon an unsuspecting world.
The eloquence and complex structures in the language of the period comes from their study of the classics in Greek and Latin, as well as those in English, and the Bible.
What I hear in this quotation is the assertion that individual rights are their own justification, just as life justifies its own existence.
Too often, the argument follows the path of external justifications. But life exists for its own sake, just as the universe does, or a single flower—it does not have to point to some perfect consequence to prove its right to exist as itself.
Men and women should be free and independent beings because they are just that very thing, and no other justification is necessary.
The utilitarian trap of consequentialism is the same as the trap of good intentions—it is used to excuse that which is inexcusable, and claim a justification for acts which are unjustified assaults on the integrity and person of the individual.
It is the right to be completely human, warts and all, that individual liberty and freedom provides and protects. To be an end in and of oneself, and not a means to another’s end.
I have nothing to fear from a truly free person, but everything to fear from one who embraces his chains—he will kill me for reminding him of what he has lost, or thrown away.
Paragraphs 3-7 of veryretired’s comment deserve high praise.. and wider circulation.
Shades of Rand there.
Many poor people spoke (and wrote) in the same way.
It is the attiude of mind, not the amount of property someone owns, that matters.
As for the idea that the state can morrally enlighten people – Gladstone (a century later) mocked that absurdity as much as Washington did.
A person can only grow in moral terms by being allowed to choose their own conduct.
And as for people abusing their freedom – of course they will (some more than others – but all people do bad things from time to time).
But the state is guilty of abuses to – and on a vastly greater scale.
Where have you gone, Mr. Washington?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo woo woo.
-Paul Simon (I’m quoting from memory, of course)
Who cares about the style? It’s the thoughts that count. And these thoughts are profoundly good.
I fear even that modern western kids are being taught to ‘articulate’ but not to think.
Shakespeare’s great strength (IMHO) are his thoughts and concepts rather than the way his strings the words together.
Any great writer is first a great thinker.
It’s one thing they cannot teach!