Saturday, May 18, 2013

Nicolás Gómez Dávila at 100

Nicolás Gómez DávilaA century ago today, Nicolás Gómez Dávila was born.

Some aphorisms:

  • As long as they do not take him seriously, the man who says the truth can live for a while in a democracy. Then, the hemlock.
  • Democratic parliaments are not forums where debates take place, but rather where popular absolutism registers its decrees.
  • Being of “divine right” limited the monarch; the “representative of the people” is the representative of absolute Absolutism.
  • In order to oppress the people, it is necessary to suppress in the name of the people that which stands out from the people.
  • Revolutions are frightening, but election campaigns are disgusting.
  • Liberty is the right to be different; equality is a ban on being different.
  • No folktale ever began this way: Once upon a time, there was a president…

1 comment:

lannes said...

brilliant observations!