Stopping illegal immigration would mean that wages would have to rise to a level where Americans would want the jobs currently taken by illegal aliens.
Thomas SowellRead
If you have ever seen a four-year-old trying to lord it over a two-year-old, then you know what the basic problem of human nature is - and why government keeps growing larger and ever more intrusive.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote illustrates the inherent desire for power and control in human nature, suggesting that governing bodies expand as a reflection of this trait.
Thomas Sowell's quote draws a parallel between the behaviors of young children and the dynamics of human nature in society, emphasizing a natural inclination towards dominance and control. By comparing a four-year-old's dominance over a two-year-old to the growth of government, Sowell suggests that as individuals strive for power, institutions tend to increase in size and reach, often intruding into areas of personal life. This observation serves as a critique of government expansion, highlighting a fundamental aspect of human behavior that manifests itself at both individual and institutional levels.
Themes
Human NaturePowerGovernmentControlIntrusive
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about government policies, I might quote Sowell to highlight concerns about governmental overreach.
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You will never understand bureaucracies until you understand that for bureaucrats procedure is everything and outcomes are nothing.
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The real problem, both in discussions of mass shootings and in discussions of gun control, is that too many people are too committed to a vision to allow mere facts to interfere with their beliefs, and the sense of superiority that those beliefs give them.
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Why is history important? Without history, many people have no idea how many of today's half-baked ideas have been tried, again and again - and have repeatedly led to disaster. Most of these ideas are not new. They are just being recycled with re-treaded rhetoric.
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Each of us has a natural right, from God, to defend his person, his liberty, and his property.
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