Language is froth on the surface of thought.

Quote by John McCarthy

Topics: John McCarthy Quotes

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...

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...

Of course, Third World leaders love you. By ascribing third world ills to First World...

Of course, Third World leaders love you. By ascribing third world ills to First World...

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.

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...

Slogans rarely convince the unconvinced. However, they do rally the troops already on your side.

Slogans rarely convince the unconvinced. However, they do rally the troops already on your side.

Self-righteousness has killed more people than smoking.

Self-righteousness has killed more people than smoking.

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...

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...

A declining institution often experiences survival of the unfittest.

A declining institution often experiences survival of the unfittest.

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...

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

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

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.

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...

Committing genocide on behalf of an institution generates greater loyalty to it than merely getting...

Committing genocide on behalf of an institution generates greater loyalty to it than merely getting...

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.

A true intellectual is a man who, after reading a book and being convinced by...

A true intellectual is a man who, after reading a book and being convinced by...

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

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

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

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