Hard distinctions make bad philosophy.

Quote by John McCarthy

Topics: John McCarthy Quotes

The peace movement is a great force for peace. Some of the world's most quarrelsome...

The peace movement is a great force for peace. Some of the world's most quarrelsome...

Never abandon a theory that explains something until you have a theory that explains more.

Never abandon a theory that explains something until you have a theory that explains more.

Amateur bureaucrats are often even worse than professional bureaucrats.

Amateur bureaucrats are often even worse than professional bureaucrats.

We modern Marxists regard socialism as a historically brief transitional stage between feudalism and capitalism,...

We modern Marxists regard socialism as a historically brief transitional stage between feudalism and capitalism,...

Foolishness is rarely a matter of lack of intelligence or even lack of information.

Foolishness is rarely a matter of lack of intelligence or even lack of information.

Soccer riots kill at most tens. Intellectuals' ideological riots sometimes kill millions.

Soccer riots kill at most tens. Intellectuals' ideological riots sometimes kill millions.

The slogan was 'Don't trust anyone over thirty'. Sixty years later the slogan became, 'Don't...

The slogan was 'Don't trust anyone over thirty'. Sixty years later the slogan became, 'Don't...

Inside of many liberals is a fascist struggling to get out.

Inside of many liberals is a fascist struggling to get out.

Comparing oneself with Galileo or Einstein is certainly good for the ego, provided one refrains...

Comparing oneself with Galileo or Einstein is certainly good for the ego, provided one refrains...

If I owned Marseilles and Hell, I'd rent out Marseilles and live in Hell.

If I owned Marseilles and Hell, I'd rent out Marseilles and live in Hell.

An excessive knowledge of Marxism is a sign of a misspent youth.

An excessive knowledge of Marxism is a sign of a misspent youth.

My hobby of not attending meetings about recycling saves more energy than your hobby of...

My hobby of not attending meetings about recycling saves more energy than your hobby of...

An extreme optimist is a man who believes that humanity will probably survive even if...

An extreme optimist is a man who believes that humanity will probably survive even if...

Suicidal terrorists may have short shelf lives.

Suicidal terrorists may have short shelf lives.

In human history, the desire for revenge and the desire for loot have often been...

In human history, the desire for revenge and the desire for loot have often been...

Proposals to forbid golf courses have about the same motivations as proposals to forbid skate...

Proposals to forbid golf courses have about the same motivations as proposals to forbid skate...

He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.

He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.

Both politicians and journalists face situations which strain their honesty and humanity. My opinion is...

Both politicians and journalists face situations which strain their honesty and humanity. My opinion is...

A declining institution often experiences survival of the unfittest.

A declining institution often experiences survival of the unfittest.

Asking a critic to name his favorite book is like asking a butcher to name...

Asking a critic to name his favorite book is like asking a butcher to name...