Human beings are pattern-seeking animals who will prefer even a bad theory or a conspiracy theory to no theory at all. Christopher Hitchens More Quotes by Christopher Hitchens More Quotes From Christopher Hitchens I don't think consensus-building politics is what I'm meant to be doing. Christopher Hitchens consensus-building meant-to-be thinking There is almost no country in Africa where it is not essential to know to which tribe, or which subgroup of which tribe, the president belongs. From this single piece of information you can trace the lines of patronage and allegiance that define the state. Christopher Hitchens essentials president country The totalitarian, to me, is the enemy - the one that's absolute, the one that wants control over the inside of your head, not just your actions and your taxes. Christopher Hitchens action want enemy There are days when I miss my old convictions as if they were an amputated limb. But in general I feel better, and no less radical, and you will feel better too, I guarantee, once you leave hold of the doctrinaire and allow your chainless mind to do its own thinking. Christopher Hitchens feel-better atheist thinking It is exactly the fear of revenge that motivates the deepest crimes, from the killing of the enemy's children lest they grow up to play their own part, to the erasure of the enemy's graveyards and holy places so that his hated name can be forgotten. Christopher Hitchens growing-up revenge children It was an axiom of "containment" that no part of the known world could be considered neutral. "Neutralism" was among the Cold Warriors' gravest curse words, applied with caustic hostility to India and even France. Those who were not with were against, subjected to intense economic and ideological and sometimes military pressure to fall into line. Christopher Hitchens warrior military fall The fragility of love is what is most at stake here—humanity's most crucial three-word avowal is often uttered only to find itself suddenly embarrassing or orphaned or isolated or ill-timed—but strangely enough it can work better as a literal or reassuring statement than a transcendent or numinous or ecstatic one. Christopher Hitchens three humanity love-is Religion attacks us in our deepest integrity by saying we wouldn't be able to make a moral decision without it. Christopher Hitchens able decision integrity I've proved to be as difficult to convert as I am to hypnotize. Christopher Hitchens difficult Its a matter of principle. If Jews born in Brooklyn have a right to a state in Palestine then Palestinians born in Jerusalem have a right to a state in Palestine. Christopher Hitchens brooklyn jerusalem principles One of the great questions of philosophy is, do we innately have morality, or do we get it from celestial dictation? A study of the Ten Commandments is a very good way of getting into and resolving that issue. Christopher Hitchens issues philosophy way The brilliant Schiller was wrong in his Joan of Arc when he said against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. It is actually by means of the gods that we make our stupidity and gullibility into something ineffable. Christopher Hitchens brilliant stupidity mean Every campaign, Garry Wills once wrote, "taught Nixon the same lesson: mobilize resentment against those in power." History taught the same to many conservative and reactionary populist movements, whose real attitude to those in power and authority was one of a servile, envious, vicarious adoration. Christopher Hitchens campaigns real attitude To reflect upon the event horizon is a great deal more awe-inspiring than a burning bush or a wooden statue that weeps or pees or bleeds. Christopher Hitchens horizon events religion As is so often the case with pieces that appear in the 'Onion,' I honestly could not decide whether this was a clever hoax or not - the arguments were almost exactly as stupid as the real thing. Christopher Hitchens real stupid clever I don’t have a body, I am a body. Christopher Hitchens body Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Christopher Hitchens mammals selfish compassion Millions of people die every day. Everyone's got to go sometime. I've came by this particular tumor honestly. If you smoke, which I did for many years very heavily with occasional interruption, and if you use alcohol, you make yourself a candidate for it in your sixties. Christopher Hitchens alcohol people years The diet book is one of those fool-and-money separation devices that seems, like roulette or slot machines, never to lose its power. Christopher Hitchens machines food book The concept of loneliness and exile and self-sufficiency continually bucks me up. Christopher Hitchens bucks loneliness self
