Christopher Hitchens Quotes
There is a reason for the affected profession of " anarchist sympathies" among Tories and grandees, and of " libertarian principles" by Hobbesian yahoos of the right. Among the former, one sees the upholding of the view that a gentleman's business and property are his own, and none of the government's. Among the latter, a distaste for democracy, for taxation, and for the need to consult others about the planet.
Hitchens, Christopher. Letters to a Young Contrarian. Basic Books, 2001, p. 138.
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.
See also Gerald R. Ford for a later similar expression.
Christopher Eric Hitchens was an English-American intellectual, polemicist, and socio-political critic, who expressed himself as an author, orator, essayist and columnist. He wrote, co-wrote, edited or co-edited over 30 books, including five of essays on culture, politics and literature. Having contributed to several publications, he is broadly regarded as one of the most influential atheists of all time.
