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.
If the battle for civilization comes down to the wimps versus the barbarians, the barbarians are going to win.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that those lacking strength or resolve may struggle against more aggressive and ruthless forces.
Thomas Sowell's quote reflects on the nature of civilization and the dynamics of power. It implies that, in a conflict between those who are seen as weak or timid and those who are aggressive or barbaric, the latter will likely prevail. This highlights a philosophical perspective on human nature, suggesting that strength and determination are essential for survival and success in society. It serves as a cautionary reminder of the importance of resilience and the consequences of inaction in the face of adversity.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about the importance of self-defense and strength in society.
More from Thomas Sowell
All quotes βBlacks were not enslaved because they were black but because they were available. Slavery has existed in the world for thousands of years. Whites enslaved other whites in Europe for centuries before the first black was brought to the Western hemisphere. Asians enslaved Europeans. Asians enslaved other Asians. Africans enslaved other Africans, and indeed even today in North Africa, blacks continue to enslave blacks.
One of the reasons for conspiracy theories is an assumption that people in high places always know what they are doing. When they do something that makes no sense, devious reasons are imagined by conspiracy theorists, when in fact it may be due to plain old ignorance and incompetence.
You will never understand bureaucracies until you understand that for bureaucrats procedure is everything and outcomes are nothing.
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.
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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We can do nothing without the body, let us always take care that it is in the best condition to sustain us.
Everything is in motion. Everything flows. Everything is vibrating.
No burden is so heavy for a man to bear as a succession of happy days.
Written language must be considered as a particular psychic reality. The book is permanent; it is an object in your field of vision. It speaks to you with a monotonous authority which even its author would not have. You are fairly obliged to read what is written.
I distrust the incommunicable; it is the source of all violence
I am so in favor of the actual infinite that instead of admitting that Nature abhors it, as is commonly said, I hold that Nature makes frequent use of it everywhere, in order to show more effectively the perfections of its Author.