An extreme optimist is a man who believes that humanity will probably survive even if it doesn't take his advice.

Quote by John McCarthy

Topics: John McCarthy Quotes

His ambition is to be the spider in the World Wide Web.

His ambition is to be the spider in the World Wide Web.

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.

My opinion is that he's a swindler and you're a sucker.

My opinion is that he's a swindler and you're a sucker.

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...

Compassion is contempt with a human face.

Compassion is contempt with a human face.

With no more than six levels of misquotation, any statement can be made to say...

With no more than six levels of misquotation, any statement can be made to say...

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

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

Language is froth on the surface of thought.

Language is froth on the surface of thought.

The difference between a contemporary liberal and a socialist is that to a liberal the...

The difference between a contemporary liberal and a socialist is that to a liberal the...

When I see a slippery slope, my instinct is to build a terrace.

When I see a slippery slope, my instinct is to build a terrace.

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...

Honor among thieves is the ancestor of all honor.

Honor among thieves is the ancestor of all honor.

Don't try to talk anyone out of concentrating his hatred on Ayn Rand or any...

Don't try to talk anyone out of concentrating his hatred on Ayn Rand or any...

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

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

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

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

Hardly anyone has noticed that in the Northern Hemisphere people stir their drinks counterclockwise, whereas...

Hardly anyone has noticed that in the Northern Hemisphere people stir their drinks counterclockwise, whereas...

When thugs by nature meet thugs by political conviction, 5-0 is not surprising.

When thugs by nature meet thugs by political conviction, 5-0 is not surprising.

A declining institution often experiences survival of the unfittest.

A declining institution often experiences survival of the unfittest.

Suicidal terrorists may have short shelf lives.

Suicidal terrorists may have short shelf lives.

It is said that man doesn't live by bread alone. Sometimes this is unfortunate, because...

It is said that man doesn't live by bread alone. Sometimes this is unfortunate, because...