Bureaucracy destroys initiative. There is little that bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines. Improvements always make those at the top of the heap look inept. Who enjoys appearing inept?
When a wise man does not understand, he says: "I do not understand." The fool and the uncultured are ashamed of their ignorance. They remain silent when a question could bring them wisdom.
The function of science fiction is not always to predict the future but sometimes to prevent it.
Good governance never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. It's execution that counts.
It is impossible to live in the past, difficult to live in the present and a waste to live in the future.
The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but have only one course of action in mind.
Politics: the art of appearing candid and completely open while concealing as much as possible.
When politics and religion are intermingled, a people is suffused with a sense of invulnerability, and gathering speed in their forward charge, they fail to see the cliff ahead of them
Every civilization depends upon the quality of the individuals it produces.
Most civilisation is based on cowardice. It's so easy to civilize by teaching cowardice. You water down the standards which would lead to bravery. You restrain the will. You regulate the appetites. You fence in the horizons. You make a law for every movement. You deny the existence of chaos. You teach even the children to breathe slowly. You tame.
Do actions agree with words? There's your measure of reliability. Never confine yourself to the words.
Small souls who seek power over others first destroy the faith those others might have in themselves.
If I'd been born in my grandfather's time, I'd have made my grandfather's mistakes. Theres no doubt of it. I just don't want to make my grandfather's mistakes today.
Technology is both a tool for helping humans and for destroying them. This is the paradox of our times which we're compelled to face.
Silence is often the best thing to say.
When you think you know something: that is a most perfect barrier against learning.
To stand alone against all adversity is the most sacred moment of existence.
Reason is the first victim of strong emotion.
It is a wise man that does know the contented man is never poor, whilst the discontented man is never rich.
Power attracts the corruptible. Suspect any who seek it.
Caution is the path to mediocrity. Gliding, passionless mediocrity is all that most people think they can achieve.
Governments can be useful to the governed only so long as inherent tendencies toward tyranny are restrained.
We accept too damned many things on the explanations of people who could have good reasons for lying.
Absolute power does not corrupt absolutely, absolute power attracts the corruptible.
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