Isabel Paterson

Date of Birth: January 22, 1886

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: January 10, 1961

Biography

Isabel Paterson was an influential American journalist, novelist, political philosopher, and literary critic. Born on January 22, 1886, in Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, she moved to the United States as a young girl. Paterson began her career as a journalist and quickly became known for her sharp wit and insightful commentary. She was a prolific writer, contributing to various newspapers and magazines, and became a significant literary critic with a long-standing column in the New York Herald Tribune. Paterson is perhaps best known for her 1943 book “The God of the Machine,” which espouses individualism and critiques government intervention in economics. This book is considered one of the foundational texts of modern libertarian thought and has influenced many prominent libertarians and conservatives. Throughout her career, Paterson was a staunch advocate for personal freedom and limited government, often engaging in lively debates with her contemporaries.

5 Interesting Facts about Isabel Paterson

1. Isabel Paterson was largely self-educated, having dropped out of school at a young age.

2. She was one of the “three furies” of libertarianism, along with Rose Wilder Lane and Ayn Rand.

3. Paterson worked as a stenographer before breaking into journalism.

4. “The God of the Machine” was initially not commercially successful but later became a significant influence on libertarian and conservative thought.

5. Despite her conservative views, she was known for her friendships with a diverse group of intellectuals, including those with differing political beliefs.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Isabel Paterson

1. “Most of the harm in the world is done by good people, and not by accident, lapse or omission.”

2. “A tax-supported, compulsory educational system is the complete model of the totalitarian state.”

3. “There can be no greater stretch of arbitrary power than is required to seize property from one person and turn it over to another without any compensation.”

4. “The individual is the unit of the human race.”

5. “The human race is in such a dreadful state that no rational person can talk about the future without tears.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Isabel Paterson’s net worth details are not extensively documented, but her highest net worth is estimated to be modest, considering her career as a journalist and writer during the early to mid-20th century.