We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

Great moments in history

On February 25, 1836 Samuel Colt patented his revolver. “God made man, Colt made them equal”

Samizdata slogan of the day

We certainly have seen the results of appeasement. It is much easier to tolerate a dictator when he is dictating over somebody else’s life and not your own.
– Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga in response to Jaques Chirac’s outburst.

Samizdata slogan of the day

When people fear the government, there is tyranny. When government fears the people, there is liberty
-Thomas Paine

Samizdata slogan of the day

Here are four pieces of advice. The first two are evil, the last is prudent
and the third is, um, British I suppose.
– James Knowles

Samizdata slogan of the day

We shall know what we go to Mars for, only after we get there. You might as well ask Columbus why he wasted his time discovering America when he could have been improving the methods of Spanish sheep-farming. It is lucky that the U.S. government like Queen Isabella is willing to pay for the ships.
– Freeman Dyson, letter to his parents, 19 May 1958

though it is a pity the US and other governments also crowd out private space business alternatives

Samizdata slogan of the day

If money does not matter to you, you do not have much imagination
– Tania Emery

Samizdata slogan of the day

A little anti-fascist sentiment brought to you by Samizdata.net

Sic semper tyrannis

Samizdata slogan of the day

“…it rests on the assumption that your kids belong to the state. If we buy that assumption then it is for the state — not for parents, the community, the religious institutions or teachers — to decide who shall have what values and who shall do what work, when, where and how in our society. That assumption isn’t a new one. The Nazis thought it was a great idea.”
– Ronald Reagan in Human Events, February 1979

(Quote via Nolo Consentire)

Samizdata slogan of the day

Perhaps it is better to be irresponsible and right, than to be responsible and wrong
– W. S. Churchill

Samizdata slogan of the day

Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer. You have only to persevere to save yourselves
– W. S. Churchill

Samizdata slogan of the day

You may find me one day dead in a ditch somewhere. But by God, you’ll find me in a pile of brass.
– Trooper M. Padgett

Samizdata slogan of the day

Still, if you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than live as slaves.
– Winston Churchill