Most Americans would say that they disapproved of violence. But what they really mean is that they believe it should be the monopoly of the state. Edgar Friedenberg More Quotes by Edgar Friedenberg More Quotes From Edgar Friedenberg What we must decide is how we are valuable rather than how valuable we are. Edgar Friedenberg valuableoptimisticself-esteem Not only do most people accept violence if it is perpetuated by legitimate authority, they also regard violence against certain kinds of people as inherently legitimate, no matter who commits it. Edgar Friedenberg violencematterpeople Human life is a continuous thread which each of us spins to his own pattern, rich and complex in meaning. There are no natural knots in it. Yet knots form, nearly always in adolescence. Edgar Friedenberg patternsteenagelife-is It is idle to talk of civil liberties to adults who were systematically taught in adolescence that they had none; and it is sheer hypocrisy to call such people freedom loving. Edgar Friedenberg libertyhypocrisypeople All weakness tends to corrupt, and impotence corrupts absolutely. Edgar Friedenberg impotenceweakness Canadians are more polite when they are being rude than Americans are when they are being friendly. Edgar Friedenberg being-ruderudefriendly Every major industrial society believes that it has a serious youth problem. Edgar Friedenberg youthseriousbelieve If a people have no word for something, either it does not matter to them or it matters too much to talk about. Edgar Friedenberg matterdoepeople In a world as empirical as ours, a youngster who does not know what he is good at will not be sure what he is good for. Edgar Friedenberg youngstersdoeworld Juvenile delinquency serves many purposes, including that of providing sadistic adults with fantasies suited to their special tastes. Edgar Friedenberg adultsspecialevil The teenager seems to have replaced the Communist as the appropriate target for public controversy and foreboding. Edgar Friedenberg targetteenageinspirational No American is prepared to attend his own funeral without the services of highly skilled cosmeticians. Part of the American dream, after all, is to live long and die young. Edgar Friedenberg funeraldreamlong So much of learning to be an American is learning not to let your individuality become a nuisance. Edgar Friedenberg nuisancedemocraticindividuality Part of the American dream is to live long and die young. Edgar Friedenberg youngdreamlong The examined life has always been pretty well confined to a privileged class. Edgar Friedenberg examined-lifewellsclass It takes a kind of shabby arrogance to survive in our time, and a fairly romantic nature to want to. Edgar Friedenberg arrogancekindwant Only science can hope to keep technology in some sort of moral order. Edgar Friedenberg moraltechnologyorder Adolescents tend to be passionate people, and passion is no less real because it is directed toward a hot-rod, a commercialized popular singer, or the leader of a black-jacketed gang. Edgar Friedenberg passionrealpeople What is learned in high school, or for that matter anywhere at all, depends far less on what is taught than on what one actually experiences in the place. Edgar Friedenberg taughtmatterschool Romance, like alcohol, should be enjoyed but must not be allowed to become necessary. Edgar Friedenberg romancealcoholshould
