More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Am not going to argue whether a machine can “really” be alive, “really” be self-aware. Is a virus self-aware? Nyet. How about oyster? I doubt it. A cat? Almost certainly. A human? Don’t know about you, tovarishch, but I am.
revolutions are not won by enlisting the masses. Revolution is a science only a few are competent to practice. It depends on correct organization and, above all, on communications. Then, at the proper moment in history, they strike. Correctly organized and properly timed it is a bloodless coup. Done clumsily or prematurely and the result is civil war, mob violence, purges, terror.
“So it is with revolution. Organization must be no larger than necessary—never recruit anyone merely because he wants to join. Nor seek to persuade for the pleasure of having another share your views. He’ll share them when the time comes . . . or you’ve misjudged the moment in history. Oh, there will be an educational organization but it must be separate; agitprop is no part of basic structure.
redundancy, necessary to any communication system—but
Under what circumstances is it moral for a group to do that which is not moral for a member of that group to do alone?”
A rational anarchist believes that concepts such as ‘state’ and ‘society’ and ‘government’ have no existence save as physically exemplified in the acts of self-responsible individuals.
“My point is that one person is responsible. Always. If H-bombs exist—and they do—some man controls them. In terms of morals there is no such thing as ‘state.’ Just men. Individuals. Each responsible for his own acts.”
I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”
“I must confess,” said Prof, “that I find these conflicting reports very conflicting.”
Clausewitz, Guevera, Morgenstern, Machiavelli,
Security: Based on double principle; no human being can be trusted with anything—but Mike could be trusted with everything.
If there is any matter that concerns safety and happiness of our marriage, haul it out in the light now. Don’t let it fester. This is our custom.”
“Never mind financial aspects. Anything which is physically possible can always be made financially possible; money is a bugaboo of small minds. Why do you select India?”
Read Malthus.
There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.”
“TANSTAAFL!”
would not punish us; they would destroy us. As Prof put it, “If possible, leave room for your enemy to become your friend.”
when faced with a problem you do not understand, do any part of it you do understand, then look at it again.”
