David Brooks Quotes

I'm not paranoid, no. I'm different in that I have enemies. Very real ones.

Hey, you want to hear my philosophy of life? Do it to him before he does it to you.

I never think past any man, because every guy has two hands and every dude wants to hurt you.

When societies feel under siege there is limited scope for understanding or compassion.

Weapons are the tools of fear.

Yes, but I am afraid he well get us into some quarrel.

Weakness and ambivalence lead to war

Defeated countries are paranoid countries.

If they [the English] want a war, they may start it. We are not afraid of it.

Hatred is a transformative power. It can make the innocuous into the menacing.

Our adversaries no long fear us, and our enemies are plotting against us.

People could be really horrible, you know? They would threaten my parents.

I've never started beef with anybody that didn't start with me first.

If somebody says or does something to me first, then I'll respond, and I go overboard with it, and it seems like I'm the one that has beef with somebody.

It doesn't prove anything except that you're bullying us. Which, as I recall, is a sign of cowardice.

Don't touch me, I'm full of snakes.

Certain people, in their eagerness to construct a world no external threat can penetrate build exaggeratedly high defense againts the outside world, againts new people, new places, different experiences and leave their own world stripped bare. It is there that bitterness begins irrevocable work.

If you view everyone as your enemies, everyone around you will be your enemies.

Threats alone, are the weapons of the threatened man.

among a coward's weapons, cynicism is the nastiest of all

You were an ass long before I made one outta ya!

I knew Elvis Presley very well. He always felt somebody was after him. When you have that kind of a fear, that kind of an attitude, you attract people who want to do you harm.

He always had a chip on his shoulder that he was ready to use to kindle an argument.

An essential part of the magic involves turning everyone into an enemy, to ward off surprises.

So you’ll just kill anyone who frightens you. Who could hurt you.” “Well…yes.