A Conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling 'Stop!'
William F. Buckley, Jr.Read
One must bear in mind that the expansion of federal activity is a form of eating for politicians.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that politicians often expand federal activities to gain more power and resources, much like consuming food.
William F. Buckley, Jr. highlights the tendency of politicians to increase the scope of federal activities as a means of feeding their ambitions and securing their positions. This metaphor compares the expansion of government involvement to a form of consumption, suggesting that politicians may prioritize their self-interest over the well-being of the public.
Themes
PoliticsFederalPowerAmbitionConsumption
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political debate to illustrate how government growth can be motivated by self-interest.
More from William F. Buckley, Jr.
All quotes βEven if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.
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I'd rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.
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I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence.
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You cannot paint the Mona Lisa by assigning one dab each to a thousand painters.
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Government can't do anything for you except in proportion as it can do something to you.
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