Quote of the Day

Alexis de Tocqueville

"It's not an endlessly expanding list of rights—the 'right' to education, the 'right' to health care, the 'right' to food and housing. That's not freedom, that's dependency. Those aren't rights, those are the rations of slavery—hay and a barn for human cattle."

An aristocratic Frenchman in the 19th century, de Tocqueville genuinely admired the democratic process and the American application. His book Democracy in America is widely regarded and considered to be one of the most comprehensive discussions of democratic values in print and well worth a read for the politically minded.

Inspired by the Analog Kid's quote today.

Loose Shit?

Tamara K points out - PJ O'Rourke is attributed the above quote. Actually, its longer.

"Freedom is not empowerment. Empowerment is what the Serbs have in Bosnia. Anybody can grab a gun and be empowered. It's not entitlement. An entitlement is what people on welfare get, and how free are they? It's not an endlessly expanding list of rights -- the "right" to education, the "right" to food and housing. That's not freedom, that's dependency. Those aren't rights, those are the rations of slavery -- hay and a barn for human cattle. There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -- P.J. O'Rourke

It's weird, because I find reputable sites that attribute it to both of them. Either way, I like the quote.

More

From Wikiquote: de Tocqueville and O'Rourke quote pages, both with the quote.

Upon Further Investigation

I could not find whether O'Rourke quoted de Tocqueville or if the quote is wrongly attributed to either one.