Life Archives - Page 2 of 82 - Scott Bradford: Off on a Tangent

Scott Bradford has been putting his opinions on his website since 1995—before most people knew what a website was. He has been a professional web developer in the public- and private-sector for over twenty years. He is an independent constitutional conservative who believes in human rights and limited government, and a Catholic Christian whose beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He loves Pink Floyd and can play the bass guitar . . . sort-of. He’s a husband, pet lover, amateur radio operator, and classic AMC/Jeep enthusiast.

Quotes

If you call a horse’s tail a leg, how many legs does a horse have? The answer is four, because calling a horse’s tail a leg doesn’t make it one.

Democratic governments may become violent and even cruel at certain periods of extreme effervescence or of great danger: but these crises will be rare and brief.

The fact that so many successful politicians are such shameless liars is not only a reflection on them, it is also a reflection on us. When the people want the impossible, only liars can satisfy.

Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are part of nature and therefore part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.

One can shuffle inanimate objects around; one can compel individuals to be at certain places at certain times; but one can hardly compel individuals to put forward their best efforts.

We ought to be extremely cautious in this country. If ever the government be changed, it will probably be into a despotism.

Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations. . . .

Diplomacy is utterly useless when there is no force behind it; the diplomat is the servant, not the master of the soldier.

[My father] gave me a piece of advice that I have always remembered, namely, that, if I was not going to earn money, I must even things up by not spending it.

Objective does not mean ‘known by all’ or ‘believed by all.’ Even if everyone believes a lie, a lie is still a lie.

Limited government is a key tenet of classic liberalism—the liberalism of people like Madison and Tocqueville—although today it is regarded as a conservative ideal.

Once I conquer Finland, I’ll head south through the Baltics and on to Belarus. Soon, all the world will find me mildly amusing.

Thus while walking along the road one needs not to be thinking of the end at every step.

Here is the thing you must bear in mind: I do not represent public opinion; I represent the public. There is a wide difference between the two, between the real interests of the public, and the public’s opinion of these interests.

Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? . . . If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?

Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go.

There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.

Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.

And the more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.

The ancient democracies, in which the people themselves deliberated, never possessed one feature of good government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity.

Tangent Theme:	26.0.33
Tangent Plugin:	6.0.77

Go to Top	`tt`
Go to Bottom	`tb`
Search	`ts`
Main Content	`tc`
Open Gallery (if present)	`tg`
Open Flagpole	`tf`
Keyboard Shortcuts	`tk`
Site Information	`ti`

Main Menu

Category: Life

Wanted: My Old ‘Honcho’ Pickup

Endorsement Statistics, 2004-2015

I Voted; You Should Too

‘Off on a Tangent’ at Twenty

Looping Back

Alaska Cruise 2015 Photos

Random Photos

Progress on ‘No-Nonsense Weather’ 0.8.0

Stupid Old Animations

I Voted; Now It’s Your Turn

The ‘No-Nonsense Weather’ Beta

‘No-Nonsense Weather’ Will Return: A Preview

Grandpa Bradford

Random Photos

Impreza WRX in the Snow

Happy New Year! 2014 Begins

Nena the Dog Visits the Beach

My Sister’s Ballroom Dancing Fall Showcase

Endorsement Statistics, 2004-2012

Unity Pillar Spotlight: Installed

Meet Nena the Dog

Subaru Horn and Grille Updates

Colonial Beach and Surroundings

2013 Road Trip: Family, Graduation, and Wedding

The Moore Tornado

Main Menu

Site Information

Keyboard Shortcuts