Alarms Quote by Irving Kristol
“Neocons do not feel that kind of alarm or anxiety about the growth of the state in the past century, seeing it as natural, indeed inevitable ... People have always preferred strong government to weak government, although they certainly have no liking for anything that smacks of overly intrusive government.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Neoconservative Mind, 1972
Neoconservatives view state growth as inevitable, preferring strong authority despite fearing overreach.
In simple terms: Neocons accept strong government, fearing little.
Key Takeaway
Balance authority with liberty.
Themes
politics
ideology
government
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
political
ideological
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- legislative reform
- public opinion
Key Concepts
conservatism
state power
freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- When does strong government become tyranny?
- How to protect freedoms?
A Different Perspective
Strong government can become oppressive if unchecked.
![“If the people are victorious against the government, the nation will be weak; if the government is victorious against the people, the military will have strength. [thus they] will have the means by which they may fight, and thus ascend to supremacy.” quote by Shang Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/289/shang-yang-71505_fighting_if-the-people-are-victorious-against-the_1236965.jpg)
![“[Conservatism:] Our revolutionary message... is that a self-disciplined people can create a political community in which an ordered liberty will promote both economic prosperity and political participation.” quote by Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/90e/irving-kristol-14064_community_conservatism-our-revolutionary-message-i_148742.jpg)
