William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008)

Quotes

• Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.

• Liberals, it has been said, are generous with other peoples' money, except when it comes to questions of national survival when they prefer to be generous with other people's freedom and security.

• You cultivate the essential virtues: high purpose, intelligence, decency, humility, fear of the Lord, and the passion for freedom.

• There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance.

• Knee-jerk liberals and all the certified saints of sanctified humanism are quick to condemn this great and much-maligned Transylvanian statesman.

• I would like to take you seriously but to do so would affront your intelligence.

• Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality the cost becomes prohibitive.

• I'd rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.

• Life can't be all bad when for ten dollars you can buy all the Beethoven sonatas and listen to them for ten years.

• The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.