Russell Kirk Quotes
The libertarian thinks that this world is chiefly a stage for the swaggering ego; the conservative finds himself instead a pilgrim in a realm of mystery and wonder, where duty, discipline, and sacrifice are required-and where the reward is that love which passeth all understanding.
Kirk, Russell. The Politics of Prudence. Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 1993, p. 167.
This quotation is very critical to people interested in the Libertarian party and libertarian movements. Although she literally “loathed” the libertarians of the day, almost all modern libertarians credit the modern libertarian movement have not only started with her but even into the 21st century she is acknowledged to be the largest intellectual force of libertarianism. Actually, she was a very strong person with very firm ideas, and she was criticized by some people who called themselves libertarian and did not follow her philosophy of individual responsibility and liberty. Her reaction was not only to avoid identifying with them but to differentiate herself whenever she could.
3rd Earl Russell of Kingston. Ironically he was regarded as a socialist by most people. His view of socialism however was what evolved as European Democratic Socialism and not the “dictatorship or the proletariat” type of Communist Socialism.
Russell Amos Kirk was an American political theorist, moralist, historian, social critic, and literary critic, known for his influence on 20th-century American conservatism. His 1953 book The Conservative Mind gave shape to the postwar conservative movement in the U.S. It traced the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition, giving special importance to the ideas of Edmund Burke. Kirk was considered the chief proponent of traditionalist conservatism. He was also an accomplished author of Gothic and ghost story fiction.
