2214 quotes by economists for you to enjoy

The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design. Friedrich August von Hayek

Finance Men Economics Design About Know How Demonstrate Curious Task Little Really Imagine

Yes, the rich will find ways to avoid paying more taxes, courtesy of clever accountants and tax attorneys. But this has always been the case, regardless of where the tax rate is set. Robert Reich

The people made worse off by slavery were those who were enslaved. Their descendants would have been worse off today if born in Africa instead of America. Put differently, the terrible fate of their ancestors benefitted them. Thomas Sowell

Today People Fate Made Worse Ancestors Enslaved Those Would Born Put Instead Terrible Were Been Off America Africa Them Who Descendants Differently Slavery

To feel much for others and little for ourselves; to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections, constitute the perfection of human nature. Adam Smith

Nature Human Nature Others Our Benevolent Ourselves Constitute Restrain Perfection Feel Exercise Affections Selfishness Human Little Much

Corruption, embezzlement, fraud, these are all characteristics which exist everywhere. It is regrettably the way human nature functions, whether we like it or not. What successful economies do is keep it to a minimum. No one has ever eliminated any of that stuff. Alan Greenspan

Indeed, a major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. Milton Friedman

Freedom People Free Argument Group Ought Market Indeed Objection Free Economy Gives Free Market Instead Major Particular Economy Most Underlying Source Itself Precisely Lack Want Against Belief Thinks

It is to be observed that 'angling' is the name given to fishing by people who can't fish. Stephen Leacock

People Given Observed Name Fish Fishing Who

Each new generation born is in effect an invasion of civilization by little barbarians, who must be civilized before it is too late. Thomas Sowell

Generation Too Late Before Too Late Must Born Invasion Civilization Civilized New New Generation Effect Little Barbarians Who Each

Stopping illegal immigration would mean that wages would have to rise to a level where Americans would want the jobs currently taken by illegal aliens. Thomas Sowell

Immigration Alien Jobs Would Rise Taken Wages American Currently Stopping Where Want Mean Illegal Illegal Aliens Illegal Immigration Level

Those who cry out that the government should 'do something' never even ask for data on what has actually happened when the government did something, compared to what actually happened when the government did nothing. Thomas Sowell

Government Nothing Those Out Something Data Never Cry Did Happened Ask Should Who Even Compared Actually

Fear is a far more dominant force in human behaviour than euphoria - I would never have expected that or given it a moment's thought before, but it shows up in the data in so many ways. Alan Greenspan

Fear Thought Before Ways Would Data Given More Never Force Up Dominant Dominant Force Than Expected Behaviour Human Human Behaviour Far Euphoria Moment Many Shows

Government has three primary functions. It should provide for military defense of the nation. It should enforce contracts between individuals. It should protect citizens from crimes against themselves or their property. Milton Friedman

Government Property Three Nation Military Defense Crimes Citizens Individuals Primary Between Protect Provide Contracts Against Themselves Enforce Should Functions

If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism. Thomas Sowell

You Be Prepared Civilization Force Accept Barbarism Then Use Prepared Defend

Although the big word on the left is 'compassion,' the big agenda on the left is dependency. Thomas Sowell

Word Compassion Big Although Left Dependency Agenda

The welfare state is not really about the welfare of the masses. It is about the egos of the elites. Thomas Sowell

Welfare State About Masses Welfare State Egos Really Elites

The real goal should be reduced government spending, rather than balanced budgets achieved by ever rising tax rates to cover ever rising spending. Thomas Sowell

Government Spending Rates Rising Rather Budgets Balanced Reduced Real Cover Goal Government Spending Than Achieved Tax Tax Rates Should Ever

A claim for equality of material position can be met only by a government with totalitarian powers. Friedrich August von Hayek

Government Equality Met Claim Totalitarian Only Powers Material Position

The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit. Milton Friedman

Free Important Single Benefit Market Unless About Both Free Market Fact Both Parties Exchange Takes Most Parties The Most Important Place Central

There are few things more dishonorable than misleading the young. Thomas Sowell

Few Young More Misleading Than Few Things Dishonorable Things

The time is long overdue to stop looking for progress through racial or ethnic leaders. Such leaders have too many incentives to promote polarizing attitudes and actions that are counterproductive for minorities and disastrous for the country. Thomas Sowell

Liberals seem to assume that, if you don't believe in their particular political solutions, then you don't really care about the people that they claim to want to help. Thomas Sowell

You People Political Care Believe Assume Liberals Claim Solutions About Seem Particular Want Then Really Help

Labour was the first price, the original purchase - money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labour, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased. Adam Smith

World Money Wealth First All Things Purchase Purchased Silver Price Labour Gold Paid Original Originally Things

Quotes by Economists