Thomas Sowell on ideas

The most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. Therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive.

I have always been offended by the song that says, ‘Everything is beautiful in its own way.’ If everything is beautiful, then the word ‘beautiful’ has no meaning. If everything were purple, there would be no word ‘purple’ in the language because it would not distinguish one thing from another.

Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good.

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

Eleanor Roosevelt1884–1962

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

Aristotle384–322 BC

• Education

One resists the invasion of armies; one does not resist the invasion of ideas.

Victor Hugo1802–1885