July 22, 2025

Anti-intellectualism is the same as self-destruction…. Intellect shows the unity of mankind; pride and contempt, lust and hatred, zeal and indifference are what divide them.

Marc Gutwirth (1919–1969), Dutch-born American academic, The Essence is to Question (no date), Seldes, p.170

Against that lineup who could argue against intellect?

It is a useful exercise for every politician to regularly grade him or herself on a scale of 1 to 10 on the extent to which she or he demonstrates each of these flaws: pride, contempt, and so on. With 1 being “not at all” and 10 “the poster boy/girl for____”.