William f. buckley quotes about voting

Today is the tenth anniversary of the death of William F. Buckley, Jr., founder of National Review and the father of postwar American conservatism. In his honor, here are six quotes by the inimitable writer on collectivism, freedom, and power.

On government power (I): “The government can’t do anything for you, except in proportion as it can do something to you.”

On government power (II): “[A] democracy can itself be as tyrannical as a dictatorship, since it is the extent, not the source, of government power that impinges on freedom.”

On collectivism: “Back in the thirties we were told we must collectivize the nation because the people were so poor.

Now we are told we must collectivize the nation because the people are so rich.”

On majoritarianism and freedom: “We are so concerned to flatter the majority that we lose sight of how very often it is necessary, in order to preserve freedom for the minority, let alone for the individual, to face