Quotes About Individualism

In these enlightened times, mademoiselle, we only believe what is agreeable to us, and what suits our own wishes, tastes, and opinions. Ca va sans dire. We cannot be forced to accept a Deity against our reason. That is a grand result of modern education.

El liberalismo representa la forma más radical de democracia.

Resultó desconcertante para muchos lectores de La riqueza de las naciones descubrir que no es el altruismo ni la caridad, sino más bien el egoísmo, el motor del progreso:

La libertad, hija y madre de la racionalidad y del espíritu crítico, pone sobre los hombros del ser humano una pesada carga: tener que decidir por sí mismo qué le conviene y qué lo perjudica, cómo hacer frente a los innumerables retos de la existencia, si la sociedad funciona como debería ser o si es preciso transformarla.

hasta alcanzar, en nuestros días, la civilización, palabra que en boca de Hayek quiere decir libertad, legalidad, individualismo, propiedad privada, mercado libre, derechos humanos, convivencia y paz.

Es decir, su odio al individualismo y al pensamiento liberal basado en el respeto a la propiedad privada, a la coexistencia de ideas y creencias distintas en el seno de una sociedad democrática, a la libre empresa, a la economía de mercado y a la libertad política.

En verdad, fue un individualista recalcitrante, constitutivamente alérgico a ceder un ápice de su independencia y a disolverla en lo gregario, lo que, de hecho, lo convertía en un enemigo declarado de toda doctrina y formación política colectivista, como el fascismo, el nazismo o el comunismo, de los que fue adversario sistemático y pugnaz toda su vida.

Pese a ello, la mentalidad tribal y la tentación colectivista de desaparecer al individuo dentro de una colectividad supuestamente homogénea e idéntica están lejos de haber sido superadas. Ellas retornan, de manera cíclica, como amenazas constantes a nuestra modernización y a que América Latina asuma, con todas sus consecuencias, la cultura de la libertad.

His only cause, ultimately, was himself.

But I don't take any notice because I don't listen to what other people say and only sticks and stones can break my bones and I have a Swiss Army knife if they hit me and if I kill them it will be self-defense and I won't go to prison

But I don't take any notice because I don't listen to what other people say and only sticks and stones can break my bones and I have my Swiss Army knife if they hit me and if I kill them it will be self-defense and I won't go to prison.

And I think a long time ago there were big stories. Stories so big you could live your whole life in them. The Powerful Hands of the Gods and Fate. The Journey to Enlightenment. The March of Socialism. But they all died or the world grew up or grew senile or forgot them, so now we're making up our own stories. Little stories. But we've each got one.

regard appeals to authority as somewhat unAmerican

disregard other

My last semester at Vassar, I'd taken to wearing nunchakus in a strap-on holster and carrying around a samurai sword — that should tell you all you need to know.

The American woman's interest does not lie in the man; she wants to be alone, and she can't be alone without dabbling, today in chemistry, to-morrow in physiology and the day after in Buddhism.

What could she do with a man who had no ideas of his own as to what he ought to do with himself?

Come down and have a glass of brandy-and-water, and leave the people alone for the present. The people can take care of themselves a great deal better than we can take care of them.

Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri;

the greater the number of owners, the less the respect for common property. People are much more careful of their personal possessions than of those owned communally; they exercise care over common property only in so far as they are personally affected.

But he who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god.

One who surpasses his fellow-citizens in virtue is no longer a part of the city. Their law is not for him, since he is a law to himself.

Zou het onverbloemde egoïsme de kern van het leven zijn? Wie wenst te voelen wat het leven is moet zich ontdoen van zijn verantwoordelijkheden en verplichtingen. Al is het maar voor even. Leven alsof de ander niet meer is dan een decorstuk. Is dat echt zo veel eenzamer, zoveel slechter dan leven alsof de ander altijd en overal een moreel appèl op je kan doen waartegen je geen nee kunt zeggen?

No group can survive, let alone thrive, unless what is good for the overall community is more important than individual freedom. Take, for example, resource allocation. How can anyone with any intelligence possibly justify, in terms of the overall community, the accumulation and hoarding of enormous material assets by a few individuals when others do not even have food, clothing, and other essentials?" In