Theodore Kaczynski Quotes

#1. There is nothing wrong with violence in itself. In any particular case, whether violence is good or bad depends on how it is used and the purpose for which it is used.

Theodore Kaczynski

#2. It is not possible to make a LASTING compromise between technology and freedom, because technology is by far the more powerful social force and continually encroaches on freedom through REPEATED compromises.

Theodore Kaczynski

#3. Never lose hope, be persistent and stubborn and never give up. There are many instances in history where apparent losers suddenly turn out to be winners unexpectedly, so you should never conclude all hope is lost.

Theodore Kaczynski

#4. People do not consciously and rationally choose the form of their society. Societies develop through processes of social evolution that are not under rational human control.

Theodore Kaczynski

#5. [ ... ] to judge from the Internet postings that people have sent me, probably most of what you learned [about me] was nonsense.

Theodore Kaczynski

#6. It is important not to confuse freedom with mere permissiveness

Theodore Kaczynski

#7. Crowding, rapid change and the breakdown of communities have been widely recognized as sources of social problems. But we do not believe they are enough to account for the extent of the problems that are seen today.

Theodore Kaczynski

#8. My occupation is an open question. I was once an assistant professor of mathematics. Since then, I have spent time living in the woods of Montana.

Theodore Kaczynski

#9. Some people have low susceptibility to advertising and marketing techniques. These are the people who aren't interested in money. Material acquisition does not serve their need for the power process.

Theodore Kaczynski

#10. But what first motivated me wasn't anything I read. I just got mad seeing the machines ripping up the woods and so forth ...

Theodore Kaczynski

#11. I Don't Want To Live Long. I Would Rather Get The Death Penalty Than Spend The Rest Of My Life In Prison

Theodore Kaczynski

#12. In modern industrial society only minimal effort is necessary to satisfy one's physical needs.

Theodore Kaczynski

#13. Power depends ultimately on physical force. By teaching people that violence is wrong (except, of course, when the system itself uses violence via the police or the military), the system maintains its monopoly on physical force and thus keeps all power in its own hands.

Theodore Kaczynski

#14. The big problem is that people don't believe a revolution is possible, and it is not possible precisely because they do not believe it is possible.

Theodore Kaczynski

#15. My occupation now, I suppose, is jail inmate.

Theodore Kaczynski

#16. Those who are most sensitive about "politically incorrect" terminology are not the average black ghetto-dweller, Asian immigrant, abused woman or disabled person, but a minority of activists, many of whom do not even belong to any "oppressed" group but come from privileged strata of society.

Theodore Kaczynski

#17. The concept of "mental health" in our society is defined largely by the extent to which an individual behaves in accord with the needs of the system and does so without showing signs of stress.

Theodore Kaczynski

#18. If the system breaks down the consequences will still be very painful. But the bigger the system grows the more disastrous the results of its breakdown will be, so if it is to break down it had best break down sooner rather than later.

Theodore Kaczynski

#19. I believe in nothing.

Theodore Kaczynski

#20. Consistent failure to attain goals throughout life results in defeatism, low self-esteem or depression.

Theodore Kaczynski

#21. We can do anything we like as long as it is UNIMPORTANT.

Theodore Kaczynski

#22. The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race.

Theodore Kaczynski

#23. The leftist is antagonistic to the concept of competition because, deep inside, he feels like a loser.

Theodore Kaczynski

#24. A theme that appears repeatedly in the writings of the social critics of the second half of the 20th century is the sense of purposelessness that afflicts many people in modern society.

Theodore Kaczynski