Without denying that Plutarch is often inaccurate and often diffuse; that his anecdotes are sometimes absurd, and his metaphysical speculations not unfrequently ridiculous, he is nevertheless generally admitted to be one of the most
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“So the advocacy of “ethnicity,â€� means racism plus tradition i.e., racism plus conformity i.e., racism plus staleness.”
― The Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution
― The Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution

“That is no casual thing: a special preference for Mephistopheles. He was especially fond of Mephistopheles’s line from Faust: “Everything that exists deserves to perish.â€�79 This is no surprise; it reflects the very thinking of the man who in letters called for the “ruthless criticism of all that exists,â€�80 who in the Manifesto declared that communism seeks to “abolish the present state of things,â€� and who at the close of the Manifesto called for “the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions.”
― The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism's Long March of Death, Deception, and Infiltration
― The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism's Long March of Death, Deception, and Infiltration

“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man. We must not conclude merely upon a man's haranguing upon liberty, and using the charming sound, that he is fit to be trusted with the liberties of his country. It is not unfrequent to hear men declaim loudly upon liberty, who, if we may judge by the whole tenor of their actions, mean nothing else by it but their own liberty, â€� to oppress without control or the restraint of laws all who are poorer or weaker than themselves. It is not, I say, unfrequent to see such instances, though at the same time I esteem it a justice due to my country to say that it is not without shining examples of the contrary kind; â€� examples of men of a distinguished attachment to this same liberty I have been describing; whom no hopes could draw, no terrors could drive, from steadily pursuing, in their sphere, the true interests of their country; whose fidelity has been tried in the nicest and tenderest manner, and has been ever firm and unshaken.
The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.”
―
The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.”
―

“The notion that one’s culture is superior to all others solely because it represents the traditions of one’s ancestors, is regarded as chauvinism if claimed by a majority—but as “ethnicâ€� pride if claimed by a minority.”
― The Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution
― The Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution

“practically every individual has some advantage over all others because he possesses unique information of which beneficial use might be made, but of which use can be made only if the decisions depending on it are left to him or are made with his active cooperation.”
― A Conflict of Visions
― A Conflict of Visions
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