What the welfare system and other kinds of governmental programs are doing is paying people to fail. In so far as they fail, they receive the money; … - Thomas Sowell

The monumental tragedies of the 20th century — a world-wide Great Depression, two devastating World Wars, the Holocaust, famines killing millions in the Soviet Union and tens of millions in China — should leave us with a sobering sense of the threats to any society. But this generation's ignorance of history leaves them free to be frivolous — until the next catastrophe strikes, and catches them completely by surprise.

Slippery use of the word “privilege” is part of a vogue of calling achievements “privileges” — a vogue which extends far beyond educational issues, spreading a toxic confusion in many other aspects of life.

Where beliefs are not checked against facts, but instead facts must meet the test of consonance with the prevailing vision, we are in the process of sealing ourselves off from feedback from reality. Heedless of the past, we are flying blind into the future.