Auberon Herbert Quotes

The enemies of freedom do not argue; they shout and they shoot.

Whatever crushes individuality is despotism, by whatever name it may be called and whether it professes to be enforcing the will of God or the injunctions of men.

Fascism is fascism. Terrorism is terrorism. Oppression is oppression.

When it comes to tyrants, dictators and terrorists, strength and the threat of force is the only language they understand.

History’s most important lesson is that it has not been possible to make coercion compatible with the truth.

It was not the year of union rather the year of division and force and oppression and violence. The imamate became like the kingdom of Chosroes and the caliphate like the tyranny of Caesar.

One need only watch totalitarians at work to see that once men gain power over other men’s minds, that power is never used sparingly and wisely, but lavishly and brutally and with unspeakable results.

Fear has always been the driving force behind all dictators' repression.

The fact is that certain themes cannot be celebrated in words, and tyranny is one of them. No one ever wrote a good book in praise of the Inquisition.

I distrust Great Men. They produce a desert of uniformity around them and often a pool of blood too, and I always feel a little man's pleasure when they come a cropper.

A state of society where men may not speak their minds cannot long endure.

In contrast, fear societies are societies in which dissent is banned.

Under conditions of tyranny it is far easier to act than to think.

Many a time freedom has been rolled back - and always for the same sorry reason: fear.

If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever.

The use of force to liberate people is very different from the use of force to suppress or control them, or even to defeat them.

Reason has never failed men. Only force and repression have made the wrecks in the world.

I fear that, tired of anarchy, you may hope at the end for a return of oppression and that you may welcome the yoke of the first fortunate adventurer who shows up, who, far from consolidating your destiny, will only prolong your servitude

The more a regime claims to be the embodiment of liberty the more tyrannical it is likely to be.

... a step in the direction of tyranny.

Whatever crushes individuality is despotism.

.. jack-booted government thugs.

It was only a generation ago that we learned that the burning of books may precede the burning of people.

No truly sophisticated proponent of repression would be stupid enough to shatter the facade of democratic institutions.

When the tyranny of the state is combined with the hypocrisy of the church, you have a modern example of the twin vultures that have devoured man, and his rights, throughout the ages.