The Uses of Pessimism

"Scruton has a knack for identifying the truths in conservatism that both supporters and critics would do well to attend to. The Uses of Pessimism is the latest of his defences of a traditional Toryism that would resonate more with the Marquess of Salisbury, the 19th-century conservative prime minister, than with Cameron or Thatcher. This is characterised by a cheerful pessimism, which doubts our capacity to greatly improve our lot but which holds that 'the world is, in fact, a much better place than the optimists allow.'"

Review of Roger Scruton's latest book in the FT Weekend (14/15 August)