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Thomas Sowell Quotes

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Ours may become the first civilization destroyed, not by the power of our enemies, but by the ignorance of our teachers and the dangerous nonsense they are teaching our children. In an age of artificial intelligence,

Ours may become the first civilization destroyed, not by the power of our enemies, but by the ignorance of our teachers and the dangerous nonsense they are teaching our children. In an age of artificial intelligence, they are creating artificial stupidity.

Teacher, Children, Teaching

Thomas Sowell (2002). “Controversial Essays”, Hoover Inst Press

It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.

Business, Stupid, Government

"Wake Up, Parents!". Column at Jewish World Review, www.jewishworldreview.com. August 18, 2000.

The next time some academics tell you how important diversity is, ask how many Republicans there are in their sociology department.

Diversity, Important, Liberty

"Random Thoughts". Column at Jewish World Review, www.jewishworldreview.com. July 31, 1998.

Racism is not dead, but it is on life support -- kept alive by politicians, race hustlers and people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as 'racists'

Race, Racism, People

Someone once said that taxes are the price we pay for civilization. That may have been true when he said it, but today taxes are mostly the price we pay so that politicians can play Santa Claus and get reelected.

Civilization, Play, Santa

How long do politicians have to keep on promising heaven and delivering hell before people catch on and stop getting swept away by rhetoric?

Long, People, Heaven

When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.

Truth, Lying, Helping Others

Thomas Sowell (2011). “The Thomas Sowell Reader”, p.398, Basic Books

What exactly is your 'fair share' of what 'someone else' has worked for?

Exactly Is, Share, Fairs

The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.

Procrastination, Productive Life, Productive Work

Thomas Sowell (2013). “Controversial Essays”, p.319, Hoover Press

What do you call it when someone steals someone else's money secretly? Theft. What do you call it when someone takes someone else's money openly by force? Robbery. What do you call it when a politician takes someone else's money in taxes and gives it to someone who is more likely to vote for him? Social Justice.

Giving, Justice, Vote

Any politician who can be elected only by turning Americans against other Americans is too dangerous to be elected.

Usa, America, Political

Thomas Sowell (2002). “Controversial Essays”, Hoover Inst Press

It is bad enough that so many people believe things without any evidence. What is worse is that some people have no conception of evidence and regard facts as just someone else's opinion.

Believe, People, Self Improvement

What the political left, even in democratic countries, share is the notion that knowledgeable and virtuous people like themselves have both a right and a duty to use the power of government to impose their superior knowledge and virtue on others.

Country, Government, People

"Presumptions Of The Left". townhall.com. May 16, 2007.

The strongest argument for socialism is that it sounds good. The strongest argument against socialism is that it doesn't work. But those who live by words will always have a soft spot in their hearts for socialism because it sounds so good.

Heart, Sound, Argument

Thomas Sowell (2013). “Controversial Essays”, p.315, Hoover Press

You may have the right to live anyway you like, but you don't have a right to have other people like it. Respect it or pay for it.

People, May, Pay

One of the most important reasons for studying history is that virtually every stupid idea that is in vogue today has been tried before and proved disastrous before, time and again.

Stupid, Ideas, Important

No one will really understand politics until they understand that politicians are not trying to solve our problems. They are trying to solve their own problems - of which getting elected and re-elected are number one and number two. Whatever is number three is far behind.

Two, Numbers, Political

Thomas Sowell (2011). “Dismantling America and Other Controversial Essays (Large Print 16pt)”, p.88, ReadHowYouWant.com

The more people who are dependent on government handouts, the more votes the left can depend on for an ever-expanding welfare state.

Government, People, Vote

If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly.

Media, Differences, People

The left takes its vision seriously - more seriously than it takes the rights of other people. They want to be our shepherds. But that requires us to be sheep.

Sheep, Rights, People

Thomas Sowell (2006). “Ever Wonder Why? and Other Controversial Essays”, Hoover Inst Press

No society ever thrived because it had a large and growing class of parasites living off those who produce.

Class, Growing, Politics

Thomas Sowell (2011). “The Thomas Sowell Reader”, p.210, Basic Books

Would you bet your paycheck on a weather forecast for tomorrow? If not, then why should this country bet billions on global warming predictions that have even less foundation?

Country, Weather, Foundation

"Random Thoughts". Column at Jewish World Review, www.jewishworldreview.com. April 06, 1999.

The problem isn't that Johnny can't read. The problem isn't even that Johnny can't think. The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.

Thinking, Feelings, Politics

In the long run, the greatest weapon of mass destruction is stupidity.

Running, Mass Destruction, Long

Thomas Sowell (2013). “Ever Wonder Why?: and Other Controversial Essays”, p.272, Hoover Press

One of the many disservices done to young people by our schools and colleges is giving them the puffed up notion that they are in a position to pass sweeping judgments on a world that they have barely begun to experience.

School, College, People

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