William F. Buckley, Jr. Quotes

• Decent people should ignore politics, if only they could be confident that politics would ignore them.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Politics

• We love your adherence to democratic principles.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Love

  Tags in Democratic, Adherence, Principles

• Truth is a demure lady, much too ladylike to knock you on your head and drag you to her cave. She is there, but people must want her, and seek her out.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Truth

  Tags in Cave, Demure

• To buy very good wine nowadays requires only money. To serve it to your guests is a sign of fatigue.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Money

  Tags in Wine, Fatigue, Guests

• There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Self-Reliance, Inverse, Between, Relationship

• The more complicated and powerful the job, the more rudimentary the preparation for it.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Preparation, Rudimentary, Powerful

• The majority of the senior class of Vassar does not desire my company and I must confess, having read specimens of their thought and sentiments, that I do not desire the company of the majority of the senior class of Vassar.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Specimens, Senior, Desire

• The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Democracy

  Tags in Government, Defense

• Some of my instincts are reprehensible.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Tags in Instincts, Reprehensible

• Scientists are people who build the Brooklyn Bridge and then buy it.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Scientists, People, Bridge

• One must bear in mind that the expansion of federal activity is a form of eating for politicians.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Tags in Federal, Activity

• One can’t doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed – different plans have to be made. And the kernel here is the acknowledgement of defeat.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Iraq, Objective, Doubt

• Life can’t be all bad when for ten dollars you can buy all the Beethoven sonatas and listen to them for ten years.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Tags in Beethoven

• Liberals, it has been said, are generous with other peoples’ money, except when it comes to questions of national survival when they prefer to be generous with other people’s freedom and security.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Money

  Tags in Liberals, Survival, Freedom

• Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Tags in Liberals, Hearing

• It seems to me that the idea traditionally defended of endeavoring to maintain existing ethnic balances simply doesn’t work any more.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Work

  Tags in Endeavoring, Idea, Balance

• It is not a sign of arrogance for the king to rule. That is what he is there for.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in King, Arrogance

• It had all the earmarks of a CIA operation; the bomb killed everybody in the room except the intended target!

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Earmarks, Operation, Cia, Killing

• Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Idealism, Reality

• I’d rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Government, University, Boston, People

William F. Buckley, Jr. (29)

Birth:	24th November, 1925
Death:	27th February, 2008
Nationality:	American
Profession:	Author, Commentator, Editor, Television Presenter

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Deaths

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• 1926 - Luther Burbank
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