We Need History, Not To Tell Us

The Most Important Function Of The University In An Age Of Reason Is To Protect Reason From Itself.

Students Now Arrive At The University Ignorant And Cynical About Our Political Heritage, Lacking The Wherewithal To Be Either Inspired By It Or Seriously Critical Of It.

Once The Law Is Broken With Impunity, Each Man Regains The Right To Any Means He Deems Proper Or Necessary In Order To Defend Himself Against The New Tyrant, The One Who Can Break The Law.

The Self Must Be A Tense Bow. It Must Struggle With Opposites Rather Than Harmonize Them, Rather Than Turn The Tension Over To The Great Instruments Of Last Manhood The Skilled Bow Unbenders And Jesuits Of Our Days, The Psychiatrists, Who, In The Same Spirit And As Part Of The Same Conspiracy Of Modernity As The Peace Virtuosos, Reduce Conflict.

A Serious Life Means Being Fully Aware Of The Alternatives, Thinking About Them With All The Intensity One Brings To Bear On Life-and-death Questions, In Full Recognition That Every Choice Is A Great Risk With Necessary Consequences That Are Hard To Bear.