Quotes by William F. Buckley, Jr.

About William F. Buckley, Jr.:

William Frank Buckley, Jr. was an American conservative author and commentator. He founded the political magazine National Review in 1955, which had a major impact in stimulating the conservative movement. He hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line (1966–1999) where he became known for his transatlantic accent and wide vocabulary. He also wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column and numerous spy novels.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Some of my instincts are reprehensible.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

Scientists are people who build the Brooklyn Bridge and then buy it.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

It is not a sign of arrogance for the king to rule. That is what he is there for.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

The more complicated and powerful the job, the more rudimentary the preparation for it.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

One must bear in mind that the expansion of federal activity is a form of eating for politicians.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

It had all the earmarks of a CIA operation; the bomb killed everybody in the room except the intended target!

William F. Buckley, Jr.

The majority of the senior class of Vassar does not desire my company and I must confess, having read specimens of their thought and sentiments, that I do not desire the company of the majority of the senior class of Vassar.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed - different plans have to be made. And the kernel here is the acknowledgement of defeat.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

I get satisfaction of three kinds. One is creating something, one is being paid for it and one is the feeling that I haven't just been sitting on my ass all afternoon.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

For people who like that sort of thing, that's the sort of thing they like.

William F. Buckley Jr.

I would rather be governed by the first 2000 people in the Manhattan phone book than the entire faculty of Harvard.

William F. Buckley Jr.

The amount of money and of legal energy being given to prosecute hundreds of thousands of Americans who are caught with a few ounces of marijuana in their jeans simply makes no sense - the kindest way to put it. A sterner way to put it is that it is ...

William F. Buckley Jr.

Human progress is achieved by taking exact measurements.

William F. Buckley Jr.

Decent people should ignore politics, if only they could be confident that politics would ignore them

William F. Buckley Jr.

It seems to me that the idea traditionally defended of endeavoring to maintain existing ethnic balances simply doesn't work any more.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

Author Bio

  • NameWilliam F. Buckley, Jr.
  • DescriptionAmerican conservative author and commentator
  • BornNovember 24, 1925
  • DiedFebruary 27, 2008
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionJournalist; Television Presenter; Novelist; Writer
  • AwardsPresidential Medal Of Freedom; National Book Award