Quotes from Nicolás Gómez Dávila

The reactionary invented the dialogue upon observing differences among men and the variety of their intentions. The democrat engages in a monologue, because humanity expresses itself through his mouth.

The theses that the Marxist "refutes" come back to life unscathed behind his back.

More repulsive than the future which progressives unintentionally prepare is the future they dream of.

The failure of progress has not consisted in the non-fulfillment but in the fulfillment of its promises.

Clergymen and journalists have smeared the term "love" with so much sentimentality that even its echo stinks.

La técnica induce insidiosamente a convertir sus categorías reguladoras de la acción en categorías constitutivas de la realidad.

A civilization's memory resides in the continuity of its institutions. The revolution that interrupts a civilization's memory, by destroying those institutions, does not relieve society of a bothersome caparison that is paralyzing it, but merely forces it to start over.

It is indecent, and even obscene, to speak to man of "progress," when every path winds its way up between funerary cypresses.

The longer nature delays in avenging the offenses committed against her, the crueler her vengeance.

Life" has so obviously become the highest goal of the modern world that whoever lives for something else — even if it's eating — arouses our sympathy.

Democratic thinking tends to deduce the consequences of action with the same straightforward confidence as the implications of a principle. What the reactionary, on the other hand, knows how to see is the paradoxical nature of actions, of people, of the world.

Primitive man transforms objects into subjects; modern man transforms subjects into objects. We can suppose that the former deceives himself, but we know with certainty that the latter is wrong.

When he repudiates rites, man reduces himself to an animal that copulates and eats.

If liberty is to last, it should be the goal of social organization and not the starting point.

Der Demokrat erstarrt, wenn er von der ungewöhnlichen Koalition Kenntnis erhält, die ihn bedroht, wenn er entdeckt, daß die Klassik des Sophokles sich mit der Romantik Kierkegaards verbündet hat, um ihn zu verurteilen. Wenn er bei diesem Unterfangen den bischöflichen Pomp Bossuets mit dem dionysischen Atheismus Nietzsches paktieren sieht.

Marxism and psychoanalysis have been the two traps of the modern intelligence.

Toda sociedade que se crê senhora de sua história, que se sente segura de seus propósitos, convicta da excelência de seus princípios e persuadida de possuir a verdade, tiraniza e oprime.

The word "humanity" in the mouth of a Catholic is a sign of apostasy, in the unbeliever's a sign of coming bloodbaths.

To say that freedom consists of something other than doing what we want is a lie. That it is proper, on the other hand, to limit freedom is an obvious fact. But deceit begins when they seek to identify freedom with the limitations they impose on it.

The surest ways of winning are more disastrous than any defeat.

Man does not admire anything sincerely except what is undeserved. Talent, lineage, beauty.

Though he knows he cannot win, the reactionary has no desire to lie.

Whoever dares to ask that the moment stop and time suspend its flight surrenders himself to God; whoever celebrates future harmonies sells himself to the devil.

The modern clergy declare that Christianity seeks to solve earthly problems—thereby confusing it with utopia.