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Frank Chodorov Quotes

Powerful Frank Chodorov for Daily Growth

About Frank Chodorov

Frank Chodorov (1904-1976) was an influential American libertarian essayist, critic, and founder of the Old Right movement. Born in Russia to Jewish parents who emigrated to the United States in 1905, Chodoros moved frequently during his childhood due to his father's occupation as a tailor. He eventually settled in New York City where he would spend most of his life. Chodorov's political views were shaped by his experiences living through the Great Depression and World War II. As a young man, he was active in various radical leftist groups but became disillusioned with their ideologies and eventually embraced libertarianism. His writings, which often criticized government intervention and advocated for individual freedom, were deeply rooted in classical liberal and Austrian School economic thought. In the 1930s, Chodorov worked as a writer for various left-wing publications before joining the staff of Henry Regnery's magazine Common Sense in the 1940s. During this time, he began to publish his own works, including "The Inquisition of Freedoms" (1946) and "The Rise and Fall of Society" (1950). Chodorov is perhaps best known for coining the term "Old Right" in 1955 to describe a coalition of anti-interventionists, constitutionalists, and anticommunists. He was a key figure in the early days of National Review magazine and served as the editor of its predecessor, The Freeman, from 1950 to 1956. Throughout his career, Chodorov's essays and articles appeared regularly in numerous publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Nation. His works continue to influence libertarian thinkers today, particularly with regard to issues of government intervention, free markets, and individual liberty. Some of his most famous quotes include: "Libertarians believe that society's structure should be based on the principle of voluntary association; they do not favor the use of compulsory force to achieve their ends"; "The essential feature of totalitarianism is not terror but collectivism"; and "If you want to understand government, find out what it does when it has the money, without asking where it got it."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"A government that is big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows us clearly that a centralized government is the death of freedom."

This quote highlights two crucial aspects of political governance as posited by Frank Chodorov: 1. The expansion of governmental power: When a government becomes large enough to provide for all citizens' needs, it amasses significant power. Such an expansive government can potentially encroach upon individual freedoms and private property rights in the name of public welfare. 2. Centralization of power and loss of freedom: A centralized government has the potential to control vast resources and decision-making processes, which concentrates power and diminishes personal liberties and local self-governance. History demonstrates that such a system can lead to the erosion of individual freedoms over time. In summary, Chodorov suggests that excessive government intervention in providing for citizens' needs leads to an accumulation of power that can ultimately suffocate freedom.

"The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself..."

This quote emphasizes that self-thinking individuals pose a threat to any government because they question authority and challenge established norms or systems. When people can analyze situations independently and form their own opinions, they may not blindly accept the official narrative or policies of a government, potentially leading to resistance or change. In other words, independent thinking is powerful and potentially disruptive to those who seek to maintain control through uniformity and conformity.

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury."

This quote suggests that the inherent nature of democracy, where citizens have the power to elect their leaders and make decisions, may lead to its eventual downfall. The reason being is that people might abuse this power by voting for candidates who promise to give them more benefits or "largesse" at the expense of the public treasury. This behavior can eventually deplete resources and destabilize the democratic system. It underscores the potential risk of unsustainable spending and short-termism in decision making, which may harm long-term prosperity and stability.

"There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs."

Frank Chodorov's quote, "There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs," implies that every decision or action carries an inherent cost or compromise. It suggests that when we seek to address one issue, we often need to consider the potential negative impact it may have on other aspects of a given situation. This understanding encourages us to be aware and mindful in our problem-solving, as solutions can never be perfect, and we must always weigh the benefits and drawbacks of our choices.

"Liberty is not a gift from the state; it is a right from God."

This quote by Frank Chodorov emphasizes that liberty, or the freedom to act, make choices, and live life according to one's own will, does not come from the government but rather from a higher power - God. It suggests that people have inherent rights to self-governance and individual freedom, which are not granted by the state but are instead fundamental and pre-existing principles. This perspective aligns with libertarian and classical liberal thought, where individual liberty is paramount and limited government intervention is desired to protect those inalienable rights.

The State acquires power... and because of its insatiable lust for power it is incapable of giving up any of it. The State never abdicates.

- Frank Chodorov

Giving Up, Giving, Any, Lust

All wars come to an end, at least temporarily. But the authority acquired by the state hangs on; political power never abdicates.

- Frank Chodorov

Political, Come, Least, Temporarily

The pertinent question: if Americans did not want these wars should they have been compelled to fight them?

- Frank Chodorov

Question, Want, Been, Pertinent

When people say 'let's do something about it', they mean 'let's get hold of the political machinery so that we can do something to somebody else.' And that somebody is invariably you.

- Frank Chodorov

Political, Say, About, Invariably

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