What is ominous is the ease with which some people go from saying that they don't like something to saying that the government should forbid it. When you go down that road, don't expect freedom to survive very long.

Thomas Sowell’s quote highlights a concern about the slippery slope from personal dislike of something to advocating for government intervention. He points out the ominous trend where individuals, rather than simply choosing not to engage with something they dislike, start pushing for it to be forbidden or regulated by the government. The shift from personal preference to imposing those preferences on society through legal means represents a significant change in the way freedom and individual choice are viewed in society.

Sowell’s statement also reflects his concern for the potential erosion of freedom. By suggesting that when people begin advocating for the government to forbid things they disagree with, they are undermining the very foundation of liberty. The phrase "don’t expect freedom to survive very long" implies that once the government is called upon to restrict personal freedoms, it can lead to broader and more sweeping restrictions that limit the choices of others, reducing individual autonomy.

The quote underscores Sowell’s philosophical stance on the balance between personal responsibility and government control. He warns that this trend of government interference in individual choices could lead to a loss of freedom, as it sets a dangerous precedent for limiting personal expression and actions based on majority opinion or political pressure. It reflects his broader critique of growing government overreach in people's lives.

Ultimately, Sowell’s message is a cautionary one about the dangers of using government force to regulate personal tastes and preferences. He stresses that a society where the government is regularly called upon to restrict freedoms based on personal dislike could be on a path that threatens the core principles of freedom and individual rights. His quote encourages a reflection on the long-term consequences of such actions for personal liberty and the social fabric.