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> Like, these bureaucrat's hearts are in the right place That makes them even worse, even more dangerous. “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for
by LarryMullins 4y ago
> Like, these bureaucrat's hearts are in the right place
That makes them even worse, even more dangerous.
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
― C. S. Lewis
- Joker_vD 4y agoOff-topic, but I found this quote hilarious specifically because it's author is C. S. Lewis since apparently he didn't realise this quote applies to the Christian God too.
- whythre 4y agoExcept the Christian God ostensibly does allow for people to make their own choices, rather than be micromanaged for their own good? Jehovah apparently guides with such a gentle hand there is debate about whether he even exists.
- Joker_vD 4y agoEpidemies, lightning strikes, floods, crop failures, sudden demolitions, unexpected illnesses — all that stuff has been described as "wrath of god/god's punishments" until very, very recent times. So yeah, he does allow people make their own choice but he also punishes wrong choices amply, not to mention putting people into all kinds of "trials and tribulations". And I am not making any of that stuff up, that used to be (and "the god tries you" still is) part of generally accepted theology; C. S. Lewis definitely subscribed to "the god sends you trials" part of it which does make that quote hilariously blind-spotted.
- LarryMullins 4y agoWell I'm certainly not a christian but I find the quote poignant. If the man who said it had a blind-spot for his own ideology, that doesn't refute the sentiment. If anything, that reinforces his point.