Terrorism is an intolerant reaction to the hypertolerance of our societies, just as rape may be an intolerance of our boundless se...xual tolerance (paradoxically, the number of rapes increases with the degree of sexual liberation). It is second-generation violence--a reaction to the absence of violence. The same is true of the second-generation illnesses (cancer); they are a reaction to the hyperprotection of our bodies. When a woman turns off all signals of pleasure in your arms and leaves you no other solution but a disenchanted rape, no phantasy is of any use. But the same applies when her sexual demand is so great as to leave no room even for the illusion of rape.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
For all the injustices in our past and our present, we have to believe that in the free exchange of ideas, justice will prevail ov...er injustice, tolerance over intolerance and progress over reaction.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Throughout the 1980's, we did hear too much about individual gain and the ethos of selfishness and greed. We did not hear enough a...bout how to be a good member of a community, to define the common good and to repair the social contract. And we also found that while prosperity does not trickle down from the most powerful to the rest of us, all too often indifference and even intolerance do.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The revolutionary spirit is mighty convenient in this, that it frees one from all scruples as regards ideas. Its hard absolute opt...imism is repulsive to my mind by the menace of fanaticism and intolerance it contains. No doubt one should smile at these things; but, imperfect Esthete, I am no better Philosopher. All claim to special righteousness awakens in me that scorn and anger from which a philosophical mind should be free.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The supreme satisfaction is to be able to despise one's neighbour and this fact goes far to account for religious intolerance. It ...is evidently consoling to reflect that the people next door are headed for hell.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Put simply, conservatives highlight the government's role in promoting individual virtue but downplay the government's responsibil...ity to create a society in which virtue can flourish. Liberals are wary of regulating personal behavior, but would give government a powerful say over the shape of social and economic life. In essence, liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most important sins. For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the flight from family life, sexual permissiveness, the failure of individuals to work hard. For liberals, the gravest sins are intolerance, a lack of generosity toward the needy, narrow-mindedness toward social and racial minorities.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
In economics, we borrowed from the Bourbons; in foreign policy, we drew on themes fashioned by the nomad warriors of the Eurasian ...steppes. In spiritual matters, we emulated the braying intolerance of our archenemies, the Shi'ite fundamentalists.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »