Tuesday, February 27, 2007

thought for tuesday

"Those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth. And let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyrannies. Absolute power does corrupt, and those who seek it must be suspect and must be opposed. Their mistaken course stems from false notions of equality, ladies and gentlemen. Equality, rightly understood, as our founding fathers understood it, leads to liberty and to the emancipation of creative differences. Wrongly understood, as it has been so tragically in our time, it leads first to conformity and then to despotism."

barry goldwater

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

wonderful, qwonderful quote..and so true/

No said...

I hope to God this isn't a Barry Goldwater quote..If so, we are in a lot of trouble!

billie said...

it is, in fact, a goldwater quote. :) what kind of trouble are we talking about?

Peacechick Mary said...

Compared to the Bush regime, I would take Regan or Goldwater any day and that's saying a lot. The repubs who are opposed to Bush are Goldwater repubs.

The Future Was Yesterday said...

He's what a Republican used to be - FOR the constitution and the country!!

Frederick said...

This has been another, "remember when Conservatives weren't crazy" moment. These moments have become fewer and fewer, and now they no longer exist except in history books

Spadoman said...

Seems to be many quotes from many former and deceased politicians, world leaders, authors, poets and just plain people that warn of what is happening right now in our country.

We were blindsided. We weren't, as a nation, paying enough attention, for whatever reason, to allow the many atrocities that are confronting us to happen.

We must be relentless in our efforts if we are to change it.

Sornie said...

I have heard over and over how if Goldwater were alive today, he'd be considered a democrat, not to mention an excellent speaker.

No said...

I'm just saying I never thought I'd see the day when Barry Goldwater would be applauded in such a way. Amazing how times have changed.

billie said...

i think it's because the politics have gotten so polarized- the extremes control both ends. i just hope that the right figures this out before the world is destroyed

Mike K said...

Sadly many in my family still believe that today's Republicans are linked to the Republicans of yesteryear. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Even though I consider myself middle of road politically, I have some how been regulated to the crazy Liberal camp. It's all good though. I'm in great company and having a great time. :-)

billie said...

i find myself in that position too- i am someone who believes in less government; more fiscal responsibility and less waste; someone who wants to limit social programs to basic human needs- you get the picture. but, because i believe in looking at other people's points of view and i have compassion for humanity and don't think war is necessary- i get relegated to the 'loony left' and 'moonbats'- to name a couple of the derogatory terms. i am left of center make no mistake- but i am certainly not a socialist.