Milton Friedman
American economist (1912 to 2006); professor at the University of Chicago from 1946 to 1977; received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences; author of Capitalism and Freedom (1962) and, with Anna Schwartz, A Monetary History of the United States (1963).
Milton Friedman did not write this page. ppll compiled it from their own words, each linked to the source. Is this you? · Report a mistake
What they believe
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In a crisis, the actions taken depend on the ideas that are lying around
When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.
books.google.comSaid c. 1982This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 20 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
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In a crisis, the actions taken depend on the ideas that are lying around
When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1982
The basic job of policy thinkers is to keep alternatives alive until the politically impossible becomes politically inevitable
That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes politically inevitable.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1982
To a free person, the country is the individuals who compose it, not something above them
To the free man, the country is the collection of individuals who compose it, not something over and above them.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
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Freedom is rare and delicate, and its great threat is the concentration of power
Freedom is a rare and delicate plant. Our minds tell us, and history confirms, that the great threat to freedom is the concentration of power.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
A free person asks neither what the country can do for them nor what they can do for the country
free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
A free person sees government as a means, neither a giver of favors nor a master to be worshipped
he regards government as a means, an instrumentality, neither a grantor of favors and gifts, nor a master or god to be blindly worshipped and served.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
If government is to exercise power, it is better done locally than by states, and by states than nationally
If government is to exercise power, better in the county than in the state, better in the state than in Washington.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
Economic arrangements play a dual role in promoting a free society
Economic arrangements play a dual role in the promotion of a free society.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
History suggests capitalism is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for political freedom
History suggests only that capitalism is a necessary condition for political freedom. Clearly it is not a sufficient condition.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
To advocate anything, people must first be able to earn a living
In order for men to advocate anything, they must in the first place be able to earn a living.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
Using political channels, though inevitable, tends to strain the social cohesion a stable society needs
The use of political channels, while inevitable, tends to strain the social cohesion essential for a stable society.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
Freedom is a tenable goal only for responsible individuals, not for madmen or children
Freedom is a tenable objective only for responsible individuals. We do not believe in freedom for madmen or children.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
A consistent liberal is not an anarchist
The consistent liberal is not an anarchist.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
Government power must be dispersed
The second broad principle is that government power must be dispersed.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
The fundamental threat to freedom is the power to coerce, whether held by a monarch, dictator, oligarchy or momentary majority
Political freedom means the absence of coercion of a man by his fellow men. The fundamental threat to freedom is power to coerce, be it in the hands of a monarch, a dictator, an oligarchy, or a momentary majority.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
Markets greatly reduce the issues that must be decided politically, minimizing government's direct participation
What the market does is to reduce greatly the range of issues that must be decided through political means, and thereby to minimize the extent to which government need participate directly in the game.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
The Great Depression was produced by government mismanagement, not by instability inherent in the private economy
Great Depression, like most other periods of severe unemployment, was produced by government mismanagement rather than by any inherent instability of the private economy.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
Letting people follow their own interests is desirable because no one can predict where they will come out
it is desirable to let men follow the bent of their own interests because there is no way of predicting where they will come out.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
A competitive market involves no personal rivalry and no personal haggling
There is no personal rivalry in the competitive market place. There is no personal higgling.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
The major disadvantage of a negative income tax is its political implications
The major disadvantage of the proposed negative income tax is its political implications.
Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition) Said c. 1962
What is a korrent?
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