41 Quotes by Randolph Bourne

The world has never favored the experimental life. It despises poets, fanatics, prophets and lovers.

For we do not do what we want to do, but what is easiest and most natural for us to do, and if it is easy for us to do the wrong thing, it is that that we will do.

The ironist is ironical not because he does not care, but because he cares too much.

So to all who are situated as I am, I would say--Grow up as fast as you can.

War is the health of the state.

The American intellectuals, in their preoccupation with reality, seem to have forgotten that the real enemy is War rather than imperial Germany. There is work to be done to prevent this war of ours from passing into popular mythology as a holy crusade. What shall we do with leaders who tell us that we go to war in moral spotlessness or who make “democracy” synonymous with a republican form of government?

We classify things for the purpose of doing something to them. Any classification which does not assist manipulation is worse than useless.

Do not take the world too seriously, nor let too many social conventions oppress you.

In America our radicalism is still simply amateurish and incompetent.