Roger Scruton Quotes

The meaning of conservatism is not that it impedes movement forward and upward, but that it impedes movement backwards and downwards—to chaotic darkness and the return to a primitive state.

Conservatism as an "ism" is always going to be somewhat in tension with a political party.

So why would I want to call myself a conservative after the way them white racist thugs have used that word to hide behind? They call themselves new Republicans.

There is always a certain meanness in the argument of conservatism, joined with a certain superiority in its fact.

Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals.

I'm not denying I've espoused and promoted conservatism, because conservatism's the alternative. And conservatism works every time it's tried. That's the problem. It really hasn't been tried. Even people claiming to be conservative, when it comes time to actually do it, chicken out.

What the heck would the establishment know about conservatism?

You know, conservatism is not a bad thing. It's not a pejorative.

There are libertarian conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and social conservatives. I feel conservative in terms of limited government, individual responsibility, self-sufficiency - that sort of thing.

I'm trying to uphold what was true about conservatism. I consider myself a Reagan conservative.

Ah yes! Conservatives. Some of the finest minds of the 12th Century.

Every time I hear the word conservative it makes me sick to my stomach.

Conservatism is not a doctrine of contentment. Not a doctrine for the satisfied and the smug. It's a politics that's at war with the world.

I've always believed that conservatism is the politics of reality, and that reality ultimately asserts itself in a reasonably free society, in behalf of the conservative position.

Conservatism is less a set of ideas than it is a pathological distemper, a militant anger over the fact that the universe is not closed and life is not static.

Admirers can be a tremendous force for conservatism.

In the book I define conservatism, as I believe it is fit upon four categories of principle: respect for The Constitution, respect for life, less government, and personal responsibility.

I'm a Ronald Reagan conservative, I'm an economic conservative, I'm strong military. But I also voice and speak and work hard on the social issues.

Naturally, I'm conservative; I'm a Republican. I always was.

I have no evidence that libertarianism leads to a better life. I just think it is morally right.

I'm instinctively a Conservative.

The debate in the Republican Party needs to be between libertarians and conservatives.

As conservatives, we know our principles, and we also know the best ideas do not always come from Washington.

There are 100 different doors to come into the conservative movement. You can disagree with 99 of them, as long as you agree on one: more-limited government.

I stand for limited government, fiscal responsibility, personal freedom, personal responsibility, so the Republican Party will support me.