David Horowitz Quotes

Powerful David Horowitz for Daily Growth

About David Horowitz

David Horowitz, born on January 10, 1939, in Bronx, New York, is an American conservative political activist, author, and filmmaker. Raised in a left-wing Jewish family, he initially embraced radical leftist politics, becoming a prominent figure in the New Left during the 1960s. Horowitz co-founded Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Ramparts magazine, where he served as editor from 1963 to 1974. However, his experiences during the Vietnam War and witnessing the violent actions of radical groups led him to question his political beliefs. This intellectual journey culminated in his public disavowal of his past ideologies at a 1988 news conference titled "A Turning Point." Since then, Horowitz has been a vocal critic of the left, writing extensively on what he perceives as its destructive ideologies. His works, such as "Hanging Together: The Seven Secrets of Highly Effective Likely to Succeed" (1989) and "The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America" (2006), have been both praised and criticized for their provocative nature. Horowitz is also the founder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, an organization that seeks to combat what it views as the radical left on college campuses and within the broader culture. His works continue to inspire debate and controversy in American political circles. Throughout his career, David Horowitz has remained a polarizing figure, influencing generations of conservatives while provoking strong reactions from those on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum. His life story encapsulates the transformative power of personal experience and intellectual exploration in shaping one's political beliefs.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"One's mind is not changed through violence, or through isolation from contrary opinions."

The quote suggests that force or isolation cannot be effective means to change one's mind. Instead, open-mindedness, engagement with diverse perspectives, and civil discourse are more likely avenues for persuasion and understanding. It underscores the importance of dialogue in fostering intellectual growth and empathy among individuals from different backgrounds and viewpoints.

"The aim of political correctness is not the pursuit of truth but the suppression of ideas that offend its adherents."

The quote suggests that Political Correctness serves to suppress, rather than encourage, open dialogue and the quest for truth. By focusing on protecting certain sensitive topics or groups from offense, it inadvertently stifles the exchange of ideas and discourages free speech, as some perspectives may be deemed unacceptable or offensive, thus limiting the search for objective truth.

"The whole point of political correctness is to make it impossible for people to criticize any idea, any policy, any movement associated with the left."

David Horowitz's quote highlights that the concept of political correctness, as he perceives it, functions to create an environment where open criticism of ideas, policies, or movements associated with the left is discouraged or considered inappropriate. This perspective suggests that such a climate stifles free speech and intellectual debate, as people may feel apprehensive about expressing dissenting opinions for fear of being labeled as insensitive, offensive, or bigoted.

"Freedom of speech means the right to say things the other person might not want you to say."

This quote by David Horowitz underscores the essence of free speech, which is the ability to express ideas or opinions, regardless of whether they are popular or controversial. In a democratic society, everyone should have the right to express their thoughts, even if others find them objectionable. This principle fosters open dialogue and encourages critical thinking, essential for a healthy, thriving society where diverse perspectives can coexist and be challenged peacefully. However, this freedom comes with responsibility: while we may have the right to say things that others might not want us to say, we should also strive to use our speech in a way that respects others and promotes understanding and empathy rather than hate or intolerance.

"The university, once the citadel of free speech, has become an institution intolerant of views not in conformity with those held by its faculty and administration."

This quote by David Horowitz highlights a perceived shift in the role and values of universities, suggesting they have moved away from upholding free speech as a core principle to instead becoming intolerant towards ideas that do not align with those held predominantly by faculty and administration. The implication is that academic institutions are no longer fostering open-mindedness and intellectual diversity, but rather cultivating an environment where only certain viewpoints are accepted.

In practice, socialism didn't work. But socialism could never have worked because it is based on false premises about human psychology and society, and gross ignorance of human economy.

- David Horowitz

Practice, Based, Gross, Premises

Israel is the canary in the mine. What happens to Israel will eventually happen to America itself.

- David Horowitz

Happen, Mine, Itself, Canary

For thirty years, beginning with the invention of a privacy right in the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, the Left has been waging a systematic assault on the constitutional foundation of the nation.

- David Horowitz

Beginning, Been, Assault, Invention

If we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday at a time of presidential inaugurals, this is thanks to Ronald Reagan who created the holiday, and not to the Democratic Congress of the Carter years, which rejected it.

- David Horowitz

Birthday, History, Reagan, Presidential

As a result of America's efforts to realize the ideals of equality and freedom, blacks in America are now the freest and richest black people anywhere on the face of the earth including all of the nations that are ruled by blacks.

- David Horowitz

Black, Including, Ideals, Richest

A key to the mentality of the left is that it judges itself by its best intentions, and judges its opponents - America chief among them - by their worst deeds.

- David Horowitz

Deeds, Best Intentions, Judges

A university is not a political party, and an education is not an indoctrination.

- David Horowitz

Education, University, Party

The issue here isn't whether every student is brainwashed, it's whether it is appropriate.

- David Horowitz

Here, Appropriate, Issue, Brainwashed

We can trust our doctors to be professional, to minister equally to their patients without regard to their political or religious beliefs. But we can no longer trust our professors to do the same.

- David Horowitz

Trust, Religious, Minister, Professors

Instead of educating students, these professors are trying to indoctrinate them.

- David Horowitz

Trying, Students, Educating, Professors

You could mention my name in any hallway in any academic institution and you would have people foaming at the mouth.

- David Horowitz

Hallway, Could, Any, Institution

Conservatives, please. Let's not duplicate the manias of the Left as we figure out how to deal with Mr. Obama. He is not exactly the anti-Christ, although a disturbing number of people on the Right are convinced he is.

- David Horowitz

Deal, Figure, Mr, Duplicate

When schools produce students who learned to think on the left or on the right, they're not thinking for themselves.

- David Horowitz

Think, Left, Learned, Schools

Politics is about winning. If you don't win, you don't get to put your principles into practice. Therefore, find a way to win, or sit the battle out.

- David Horowitz

Politics, Winning, Practice, Principles

What the left says sounds very good but, in practice, it works out very badly.

- David Horowitz

Practice, Very, Works, Badly

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