Going Fourth

 

                        Going Fourth

There are a lot of opinions about America. Recent internal criticism--undermining America's position and reputation in the world--is becoming less and less significant because it seems more and more stupid. This is not to say that stupidity can not carry the day in a democracy, but it does mean it will have less a foundation and less permanence. And it is difficult to weaponize the supercilious.

Some thoughts on America by real thinkers:

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thomas Jefferson

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.
Albert Camus

America had an exceptional revolution, one that did not attempt to define and deliver happiness, but one that set people free to define and pursue it as they please.--Will

There is nothing the matter with Americans except their ideals. The real American is all right; it is the ideal American who is all wrong.
G.K. Chesterton

Isonomy guaranteed … equality, but not because all men were born or created equal, but, on the contrary, because men were by nature ... not equal, and needed an artificial institution, the polis, which by virtue of its νόμος would make them equal. --Arendt

The American Constitution is, as far as I can see, the most wonderful work ever struck off at any given time by the brain and purpose of man---Gladstone

Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.--Thacher

America: At first they strove to preserve the rights of Englishmen. This failed, and they declared their rights as human beings. This had never been done so largely.--acton

Perhaps, after all, America never has been discovered. I myself would say that it had merely been detected
Oscar Wilde

American Revolution: The great point is that the letter of the law was against them. The absence of real oppression likewise. It was definitely an appeal to unwritten law, unchartered rights.--acton