2015年10月13日 星期二

自由並不為社會大眾而生

事實是,一般人對自由的喜好十分之九都是出自想像的,一如他對理性,正義和真理的喜好。當他真正自由的時候,他其實並不快樂;既不舒服,又有點驚慌,加上難以忍受的寂寞。自由並不為社會大眾而生,而是專屬於一群既小又聲名狼藉的少數人,一如知識,勇氣和榮譽。只有一小群特殊的人們才能了解與享受自由 - 而通常在民主社會被視為不法份子。
-- "Baltimore Evening Sun" (12 February 1923), H. L. Mencken
Blake Williams
"The fact is that the average man's love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary, exactly like his love of sense, justice and truth. He is not actually happy when free; he is uncomfortable, a bit alarmed, and intolerably lonely. Liberty is not a thing for the great masses of men. It is the exclusive possession of a small and disreputable minority, like knowledge, courage and honor. It takes a special sort of man to understand and enjoy liberty — and he is usually an outlaw in democratic societies." -- H. L. Mencken

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