Isaac Asimov
- Anti-Intellectualism
Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. '.
John Nichols
- Excerpt from The Death of Expertise
These are dangerous times. Never have so many people had so much access to so much knowledge and yet have been so resistant to learning anything. In the United States otherwise intelligent people denigrate intellectual achievement and reject the advice of experts. Not only do increasing numbers of laypeople lack basic knowledge, they reject rules of evidence and refuse to learn how to make a logical argument.
H.L. Mencken
- The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26th 1920
As Democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron.
Quoted as presented in Half The Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
- Starfish - Unknown
A man goes for a walk on the beach and sees that it is covered with starfish that have washed up in the tide. A little boy is walking along, picking them up and throwing them back into the water. "What are you doing, son?" the man asks. "You see how many starfish there are? You'll never make a difference." The boy paused thoughtfully, and picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean. "It sure made a difference to that one," he said.
Lady Trieu circa 248AD(?)
I wish to ride a strong wind and tame fierce waves, kill sharks in the Eastern sea, force back the Chinese armies, and throw off the chains of slavery. How could I possibly accept to be some man's servant?
George Orwell
- Politics and the English Language
A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.
William Strunk Jr.
- The Elements of Style
Consciously or unconsciously, the reader is dissatisfied with being told only what is not; the reader wishes to be told what is... If your every sentence admits a doubt, your writing will lack authority.
Carrie Brownstein
- Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl
Much of it boiled down to identity, a way of differentiating punk from the rest of the world, making it subversive, confrontational. Whether quiet or loud, fast or slow, ugly or pretty - it was not about sound or look - punk was about making choices that didn't bend to consumptive and consumerist inclinations and ideologies, that didn't commodify the music or ourselves. We didn't want to be associated with a brand. We wanted to be the brand.
Carrie Brownstein
- Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl
There would be many decisions in Sleater-Kinney dictated not by reason but by fear, working from a place of consensus, like some high-minded, well-meaning nonprofit board, except these were our lives and careers. We fumbled around for a place that felt good, a space often situated right next to someone else feeling awful. It was a delicate balance. We had to go with what felt right, even if the decisions were wrong.
J.K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Dumbledore
Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do! Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!
