Monday, July 20, 2009

Quote of the Day: Mark Twain

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

~Mark Twain


10 Comments:

At 7/20/2009 9:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The single most damaging error of the modern age is the misperception of government as an agency of compassion. As a replacement for the "divine right of kings," this misperception has, for those in power, been an astonishing success. For the rest of mankind, it has frequently been a disaster beyond imagining. Government is nothing more than structured, widespread coercion, and the idea that it can implement compassion for us by force is simply a vile and cunning lie. It is cunning because people are primed and willing, even desperate, to believe it.

- Glenn Allport

 
At 7/20/2009 10:28 AM, Blogger Hot Sam said...

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At 7/20/2009 12:46 PM, Anonymous Benny The Libertarian said...

That titan of capitalists, Carnegie, thought inherited wealth an enfeebling abomination, and that no wealth should be transferred through the generations.
Then everyone would have to stand on their own two feet.

 
At 7/20/2009 8:48 PM, Blogger Hot Sam said...

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At 7/20/2009 10:57 PM, Blogger QT said...

Robert,

Benny's post merely reiterated the very well known views of Carnegie but did not offer any opinion on the subject.

Your frustrations seem to be getting the better of your good nature and civility.

 
At 7/20/2009 11:56 PM, Blogger Hot Sam said...

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At 7/21/2009 5:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neat!
I liked it Robert.

 
At 7/21/2009 6:15 AM, Anonymous Amir Sadeghi said...

I accept this, but a question: How could we build our world, without considering what exists?
Is it possible?
I need more explanation!

 
At 7/21/2009 8:46 AM, Blogger QT said...

Robert,

Excellent post. Nice to see that you aren't letting the turkeys get you down. Agree that the use of normative phrases has implications which may be intentional. I also agree that Carnegie's thoughts on inheritance do not seem to relate directly to the content of the Twain quote.

Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) and Mark Twain (1835-1910) were historical contemporaries. From this standpoint, both quotes reflect the cultural norms of 19th century American society ie. the work ethic, self-reliance.

It seems strange that the "quote of the day" is not "of the day" but rather one from the 19th century.

 
At 7/21/2009 7:19 PM, Blogger Hot Sam said...

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