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33 Thought-Provoking William F. Buckley, Jr Quotes

Famous As: Editor
Born On: November 24, 1925
Died On: February 27, 2008
Born In: New York, New York, United States
Died At Age: 82
William F. Buckley, Jr. was an influential American writer, commentator and a political activist. He is known as a conservative author and commentator. After serving the U.S army for a couple of years he became one of the honor guards to the U.S President Franklin Roosevelt. He also joined the ‘Skull and Bones Society’ to become a star debater. He made his writing debut with ‘God and Man at Yale’ which reflected his spiritual roots and his ideas on free market. This got him hired by the ‘Central Intelligence Agency’ where he served for a short period. He also worked as an associate editor at ‘The American Mercury Magazine’ which encouraged him to start the conservative journal ‘National Review’. He was a big hit as a syndicated columnist as his columns were printed in more than 300 newspapers. His thoughts, writings in magazines and columns boosted his reputation as a political writer and he wrote about 40 books on contemporary politics. He even tried his hand at writing spy novels and was well appreciated. We have curated his quotes from his writings and life. Go through the compilation of these quotations and thoughts by William F. Buckley, Jr that reflect his great intellect of politics. 
I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.

I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.

Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
I would rather be governed by the first 2000 people in the Manhattan phone book than the entire faculty of Harvard.

I would rather be governed by the first 2000 people in the Manhattan phone book than the entire faculty of Harvard.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Decent people should ignore politics, if only they could be confident that politics would ignore them

Decent people should ignore politics, if only they could be confident that politics would ignore them

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Life can't be all bad when for ten dollars you can buy all the Beethoven sonatas and listen to them for ten years.

Life can't be all bad when for ten dollars you can buy all the Beethoven sonatas and listen to them for ten years.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
I would like to take you seriously but to do so would affront your intelligence.

I would like to take you seriously but to do so would affront your intelligence.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Liberals, it has been said, are generous with other peoples' money, except when it comes to questions of national survival when they prefer to be generous with other peoples' freedom and security.

Liberals, it has been said, are generous with other peoples' money, except when it comes to questions of national survival when they prefer to be generous with other peoples' freedom and security.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Though liberals do a great deal of talking about hearing other points of view, it sometimes shocks them to learn that there are other points of view.

Though liberals do a great deal of talking about hearing other points of view, it sometimes shocks them to learn that there are other points of view.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
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.

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.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
The academic community has in it the biggest concentration of alarmists, cranks and extremists this side of the giggle house.

The academic community has in it the biggest concentration of alarmists, cranks and extremists this side of the giggle house.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Truth is a demure lady, much too ladylike to knock you on your head and drag you to her cave. She is there, but people must want her, and seek her out.

Truth is a demure lady, much too ladylike to knock you on your head and drag you to her cave. She is there, but people must want her, and seek her out.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
A Conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling 'Stop!

A Conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling 'Stop!

William F. Buckley, Jr.
The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.

The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
I had much more fun criticizing than praising.

I had much more fun criticizing than praising.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Industry is the enemy of melancholy

Industry is the enemy of melancholy

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Conservatives should be adamant about the need for the reappearance of Judeo-Christianity in the public square.

Conservatives should be adamant about the need for the reappearance of Judeo-Christianity in the public square.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance.

There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
[D]emocracy can itself be as tyrannical as a dictatorship, since it is the extent, not the source, of government power that impinges on freedom.

[D]emocracy can itself be as tyrannical as a dictatorship, since it is the extent, not the source, of government power that impinges on freedom." -William F Buckley

William F. Buckley, Jr.
I profoundly believe it takes a lot of practice to become a moral slob.

I profoundly believe it takes a lot of practice to become a moral slob.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
What would happen if the Communists occupied the Sahara? Answer: Nothing—for 50 years. Then there would be a shortage of sand.

What would happen if the Communists occupied the Sahara? Answer: Nothing—for 50 years. Then there would be a shortage of sand.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Liberals don’t care what you do so long as it’s compulsory.

Liberals don’t care what you do so long as it’s compulsory.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
I find it easier to believe in God than to believe Hamlet was deduced from the molecular structure of a mutton chop.

I find it easier to believe in God than to believe Hamlet was deduced from the molecular structure of a mutton chop.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
The more complicated and powerful the job, the more rudimentary the preparation for it.

The more complicated and powerful the job, the more rudimentary the preparation for it.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Human progress is achieved by taking exact measurements.

Human progress is achieved by taking exact measurements.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
I would sooner be governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than by the two thousand members of the faculty of Harvard.

I would sooner be governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than by the two thousand members of the faculty of Harvard.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment have earned universal recognition.

Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment have earned universal recognition.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Pentagon ought to win the Nobel Peace Prize every year, because the U.S. military is the world’s foremost guarantor of peace

Pentagon ought to win the Nobel Peace Prize every year, because the U.S. military is the world’s foremost guarantor of peace

William F. Buckley, Jr.
The loneliness of flight is not entirely overwhelmed by cabin movies, the drinks, the Gemütlichkeit of shoulder-to-shoulder life.

The loneliness of flight is not entirely overwhelmed by cabin movies, the drinks, the Gemütlichkeit of shoulder-to-shoulder life.

William F. Buckley, Jr.
For people who like that sort of thing, that's the sort of thing they like.

For people who like that sort of thing, that's the sort of thing they like.

William F. Buckley, Jr.