Many of the products which create a modern standard of living are only the physical incorporations of ideas- not only read more

Many of the products which create a modern standard of living are only the physical incorporations of ideas- not only the ideas of an Edison or a Ford but the ideas of innumerable anonymous people who figure out the design of supermarkets, the location of gasoline stations, and the million mundane things on which our material well-being depends. Societies which have more people carrying out physical acts and fewer people supplying ideas do not have higher standards of living. Quite the contrary.

The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the read more

The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing.

Anybody can cut prices, but it takes brains to produce a better article.

Anybody can cut prices, but it takes brains to produce a better article.

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to read more

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out.

No one has a greater asset for his business than a man's pride in his work.

No one has a greater asset for his business than a man's pride in his work.

...it is solely bigness in business which makes it possible to supply the masses with all those products the present-day read more

...it is solely bigness in business which makes it possible to supply the masses with all those products the present-day American common man does not want to do without. Luxury goods for the few can be produced in small shops. Luxury goods for the many require big business.

Money may kindle, but it cannot by itself, and for very long, burn.

Money may kindle, but it cannot by itself, and for very long, burn.

Only little people pay taxes.

Only little people pay taxes.

Since man does not create physical matter, those who handle material objects in the production process are not producers in read more

Since man does not create physical matter, those who handle material objects in the production process are not producers in that sense. Economic benefits result from the transformation of matter in form, location, or availability (intellectually or temporally). It is these transformations that create economic benefits valued by consumers, and whoever arranges such transformations contributes to the value of things, whether his hands actually come into contact with physical objects or not.