“Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude” - Alexis de Tocqueville
It’s definitely one of those things you gotta already be seeking it out for it to hit. Your talk must have really struck a chord with him (pun intended).
Been trying to get other people to read this book but don’t have any takers yet
Are we at the “then they fight you stage” already?
I can promise you I’ll never be buying another iPhone
“When the course of civilization takes an unexpected turn—when, instead of the continuous progress we have come to expect, we find ourselves threatened by evils associated by us with past ages of barbarism—we naturally blame anything but ourselves. Have we not all striven according to our best lights, and have not many of our finest minds incessantly worked to make this a better world? Have not all our hopes been directed toward greater freedom, justice, and prosperity? If the outcome is so different from our aims—if, instead of freedom and prosperity, bondage and misery stare us in the face—is it not clear that sinister forces must have foiled our intentions, that we are the victims of some evil power which must be conquered before we resume the road to better things?” - F.A. Hayek
The will of man is not shattered but softened, bent and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to a flock of timid and industrial animals, of which government is the shepherd.
The act of believing is more important than the fact of believing
A man is no less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years
Get quiet and go inwards
Anything that steals our sovereignty from us, is not good for us.
Love this world into a better place
You don’t have to believe the same to still love each other
Deathly hallows is my favourite book, I’m a sucker for some good lore. Favourite movie tho is prisoner of Azkaban because it really has a tone shift from the first two and I feel like it’s the point for Harry in which he realizes where you can’t trust the government, you have to find things out for yourself. The ministry told him Serious was this evil and dangerous man and to stay away from him when in truth it was the opposite, he was kind, loving and wanted nothing but the best for Harry.
In my opinion, leaders of countries are the equivalent to middle management in a corporation. They can make decisions that can change how a corporation is run but they can’t change the direction the corporation is going, that’s for the real bosses to decide.
The highest human power is love
Technology is neither good nor bad, it is the application of technology that will make it helpful or harmful. A hammer could be used to build a house or to commit murder, it’s up to the user to decide.