The strongest argument against totalitarianism may be a recognition of a universal human nature; that all humans have … - Steven Pinker

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I had a running compiler and nobody would touch it. They told me computers could only do arithmetic.

Steven Pinker

The strongest argument against totalitarianism may be a recognition of a universal human nature; that all humans have innate desires for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The doctrine of the blank slate. . . is a totalitarian's dream.

Against, Dream, Innate, Liberty, Nature, Pursuit Of Happiness

Same Author Quotes

All our behaviours are a result of neurophysiological activity in the brain. There is no reason to believe there is any magic going on.

Activity, Believe, Magic, Neurophysiological, Psychology, Reason

Being smarter gives you a tailwind throughout life. People who are more intelligent earn more, live longer, get divorced less, are less likely to get addicted to alcohol and tobacco, and their children live longer.

Alcohol, Children, Intelligent, Live, People

I would argue that nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift.

Fragile, Giving, Life, Purpose, Realization

When it comes to explaining human thought and behavior, the possibility that heredity plays any role at all still has the power to shock. To acknowledge human nature, many think, is to endorse racism, sexism, war, greed, genocide, nihilism, reactionary politics, and neglect of children and the disadvantaged. Any claim that the mind has an innate organization strikes people not as a hypothesis that might be incorrect but as a thought it is immoral to think.

Behavior, Children, Human, Mind, Thinking, War

In many Muslim countries, witchcraft is not only on the books as a crime, but is commonly prosecuted. In 2009, for example, Saudi Arabia convicted a man for carrying a phone booklet with characters in an alphabet from his native Eritrea, which the police interpreted as occult symbols. He was lashed three hundred times and imprisoned for more than three years.

Book, Carrying, Character, Country, Crime, Eritrea

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George R. R. Martin

All the world knew that a maester forged his silver link when he learned the art of healing—but the world preferred to forget that men who knew how to heal also knew how to kill.

Art, Heal, Healing, Link, Maester, Men

Robert Crumb

Some things I won't do for any amount of money. That's so demoralizing and goes against every principle that I hold. It's like, okay, some rich people can buy me because I'm a talented guy. They can buy talent. You can't buy it for yourself, but you can buy other people's talent to serve your purposes. And once an artist does that, he becomes like a plaything of the rich. You know, some of these wealthy collectors have paid lots of money for artwork that I already did, but I didn't do it with the intention of catering to them.

Artist, Collectors, Guy, Okay, People

Grace Hopper

I had a running compiler and nobody would touch it. They told me computers could only do arithmetic.

Arithmetic, Computer, Computers, Nobody, Running, Touch

David Douglas Duncan

I never felt in competition with anybody in war photography. You're lucky to get your ass in and out again. It's as simple as that. It's the easiest photography in the world to shoot somebody who's been shot up. It doesn't take a genius. That's easy. The only thing you need to know is your photography. Get in and if you're lucky get out. And get as close as you can get.

Lucky, Photography, Simple, War, World

Roxanne McKee

I think you should aim for the stars - and hopefully avoid ending up in the clouds!

Aim, Clouds, Stars, Think, Thinking