Isabel Paterson

From BillionQuotes

Isabel Paterson (1886 - 1961), best-selling writer, influential literary critic, libertarian philosopher.

From The God of the Machine, 1943

• "The humanitarian in theory is the terrorist in action."

• "The philanthropist, the politician, and the pimp are inevitably found in alliance because they have the same motives, they seek the same ends, to exist for, through, and by others."

• "But when the good people do know, as they certainly do, that three million persons (at the least estimate) were starved to death in one year by the methods they approve, why do they still fraternize with the murderers and support the measures? Because they have been told that the lingering death of the three millions might ultimately benefit a greater number. The argument applies equally well to cannibalism." (emphasis in the original)

Unsourced

• "The most dimwitted attempt at argument we've heard in this mortal world is the supposed retort to any advocate of freedom: 'Do you mean to be free to starve?' We mean, do you think you can’t starve with your hands tied?"

• "A tax-supported, compulsory educational system is the complete model of the totalitarian state."

• "As freak legislation, the antitrust laws stand alone. Nobody knows what it is they forbid."

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