Date of Birth: January 22, 1886
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: January 10, 1961
Biography
Isabel Paterson was a Canadian-American journalist, author, and political philosopher, known for her significant contributions to American literature and libertarian thought. Born on January 22, 1886, in rural Ontario, Canada, Paterson moved to the United States with her family during her childhood. She spent her early years working various jobs, including as a stenographer and a bookkeeper, before finding her calling in journalism. Paterson began her journalism career in the 1920s and quickly gained recognition for her sharp wit and incisive commentary. She worked for several prominent newspapers, including the New York Herald Tribune, where she wrote a popular column called “Turns with a Bookworm.” Her literary work extended beyond journalism; she authored several novels, the most famous being “The God of the Machine” (1943), which is often cited as a foundational text in the American libertarian movement. Throughout her career, Paterson was known for her staunch advocacy of individualism and free-market principles. She was a contemporary and friend of other influential libertarian thinkers, such as Ayn Rand and Rose Wilder Lane. Paterson’s legacy continues to influence libertarian thought and American literature.
5 Interesting Facts about Isabel Paterson
1. Isabel Paterson was one of the “big three” women who helped shape the American libertarian movement, alongside Ayn Rand and Rose Wilder Lane.
2. Her book “The God of the Machine” is considered one of the most important works in libertarian literature, laying out a comprehensive philosophy of individualism.
3. Paterson was largely self-educated, having only completed a few years of formal schooling.
4. She was a vocal critic of the New Deal, believing it expanded government power at the expense of individual freedom.
5. Despite her influential work in journalism and literature, Paterson lived much of her life in relative obscurity and financial difficulty.
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. “No law can give power to private persons; every law transfers power from private persons to government.”
3. “The idea of ‘social responsibility’ is to make the individual responsible to society, instead of making society responsible to the individual.”
4. “There can be no greater stretch of arbitrary power than is required to seize a citizen and transport him for trial across the ocean.”
5. “The humanitarian in theory is the terrorist in action.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Isabel Paterson’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but she lived modestly and faced financial difficulties throughout her life.
Children
Isabel Paterson did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Isabel Paterson Biography on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_Paterson
3. [Libertarianism.org: Isabel Paterson](https://www.libertarianism.org/people/isabel-paterson
