Educational romanticism asks too much from students at the bottom of the intellectual pile, asks the wrong things from those in the middle, and asks too little from those at the top.

The most troubling aspect of social policy towards the poor in late 20th century America is or how much it costs, but what it has bought.

People need self-respect, but self-respect must be earned - it cannot be self-respect if it's not earned - and the only way to earn anything is to achieve it in the face of the possibility of failing.

Illegitimacy is the single most important social problem of our time - more important than crime, drugs, poverty, illiteracy, welfare or homelessness because it drives everything else.

Educational romanticism asks too much from students at the bottom of the intellectual pile, asks the wrong things from those in the middle, and asks too little from those at the top.

Give people plenty and security, and they will fall into spiritual torpor.

The welfare state is an enemy of private property. The excessive taxation used to support the welfare state is extremely dangerous.