Quotes by Thomas Sowell

About Thomas Sowell:

Thomas Sowell is an American economist, social theorist, political philosopher, and author.
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The word 'racism' is like ketchup. It can be put on practically anything - and demanding evidence makes you a 'racist.'

Thomas Sowell

Both free speech rights and property rights belong legally to individuals, but their real function is social, to benefit vast numbers of people who do not themselves exercise these rights.

Thomas Sowell

The people made worse off by slavery were those who were enslaved. Their descendants would have been worse off today if born in Africa instead of America. Put differently, the terrible fate of their ancestors benefitted them.

Thomas Sowell

Although the big word on the left is 'compassion,' the big agenda on the left is dependency.

Thomas Sowell

Few professors would dare to publish research or teach a course debunking the claims made in various ethnic, gender, or other 'studies' courses.

Thomas Sowell

Groups that rose from poverty to prosperity seldom did so by having their own racial or ethnic leaders to follow.

Thomas Sowell

Sometimes it seems as if there are more solutions than problems. On closer scrutiny, it turns out that many of today's problems are a result of yesterday's solutions.

Thomas Sowell

The problem isn't that Johnny can't read. The problem isn't even that Johnny can't think. The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.

Thomas Sowell

Talkers are usually more articulate than doers, since talk is their specialty.

Thomas Sowell

The Congressional Budget Office has been embarrassed repeatedly by making projections based on the assumption that tax revenues and tax rates move in the same direction.

Thomas Sowell

In various countries and times, leaders of groups that lagged behind, economically and educationally, have taught their followers to blame all their problems on other people - and to hate those other people.

Thomas Sowell

Actually lowering the cost of insurance would be accomplished by such things as making it harder for lawyers to win frivolous lawsuits against insurance companies.

Thomas Sowell

If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.

Thomas Sowell

The welfare state is not really about the welfare of the masses. It is about the egos of the elites.

Thomas Sowell

If the battle for civilization comes down to the wimps versus the barbarians, the barbarians are going to win.

Thomas Sowell

It is a way to take people's wealth from them without having to openly raise taxes. Inflation is the most universal tax of all.

Thomas Sowell

All of us should be on guard against beliefs that flatter ourselves. At the very least, we should check such beliefs against facts.

Thomas Sowell

Our schools and colleges are turning out people who cannot feel fulfilled unless they are telling other people what to do.

Thomas Sowell

The old adage about giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish has been updated by a reader: Give a man a fish and he will ask for tartar sauce and French fries! Moreover, some politician who wants his vote will declare all these things to b...

Thomas Sowell

Even the Soviet Union, with its huge nuclear arsenal, was a threat that could be deterred by the prospect of retaliation. But suicide bombers cannot be deterred. They can only be annihilated - preemptively and unilaterally, if necessary.

Thomas Sowell

Immigration laws are the only laws that are discussed in terms of how to help people who break them.

Thomas Sowell

Author Bio

  • NameThomas Sowell
  • DescriptionAmerican economist, social theorist, political philosopher and author
  • BornJune 30, 1930
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionEconomist
  • AwardsNational Humanities Medal