"Talk can be cheap, very cheap. It can also be costly. “Speak out!” we say. “Why are you afraid to speak out?” we say. In dictatorships, it can be very, very hard to speak out. Many people have been imprisoned or worse for talk. But even in democratic societies, talk can be hard. It can be hard not only in politics but also in high schools and families and churches and professional communities and other arenas. But even in democratic societies, talk can be hard. It can be hard not only in politics but also in high schools and families and churches and professional communities and other arenas."

“One more word on talking, before I stop talking, at least about this subject: You or I may not like the talker, but talk matters, much of the time. It is especially significant when the talker is lonely — when most around him are keeping mum.”

“he nutcase Left and the nutcase Right are alike in virtually every particular. They should get a room somewhere -- far from here.”

“But understand them, people say. And one does. But sometimes understanding is not comforting or flattering to the understood.”

“Nordlinger's profile at National Review Online”

“Globalism" is often the most self-interested and "nationalist" thing you can do. It has been a bonanza to the United States, for sure. In capitalism, your narrowest interests are advanced by cooperation. A genius system.”

“Nemtsov sacrificed a lot for politics, for a freer Russia — and I’m not just talking about his life, his mortal life.”