Quotes by Nicolas Walter

“Many people say that government is necessary because some men cannot be trusted to look after themselves, but anarchists say that government is harmful because no men can be trusted to look after anyone else.”

[Obituary of atheist philosopher Richard Robinson]An Atheists Values is one of the best short accounts of liberalism (a term Robinson accepted) and humanism (a term he ignored) produced during the present century, all the more powerful for its lucidity and moderation, its wit and wisdom. It may now seem old-fashioned, but during those confused alarms of struggle and fight between the ignorant armies of left and right, thousands of readers must have taken inspiration from Richard Robinsons rational defence of rationalism.It is a pity that it is now out of print, when there is still so much nonsense and so little sense in the world.