Greed is all right, by the way I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good read more

Greed is all right, by the way I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself.

What matters is not the allocation of portions out of a fund presented to man by nature. The problem is read more

What matters is not the allocation of portions out of a fund presented to man by nature. The problem is rather to further those social institutions which enable people to continue and to enlarge the production of all those things which they need.

This world is run with far too tight a rein for luck to interfere. Fortune sells her wares; she never read more

This world is run with far too tight a rein for luck to interfere. Fortune sells her wares; she never gives them. In some form or other, we pay for her favors; or we go empty away.

The rich adopt novelties and become accustomed to their use. This sets a fashion which others imitate. Once the richer read more

The rich adopt novelties and become accustomed to their use. This sets a fashion which others imitate. Once the richer classes have adopted a certain way of living, producers have an incentive to improve the methods of manufacture so that soon it is possible for the poorer classes to follow suit. Thus luxury furthers progress. Innovation "is the whim of an elite before it becomes a need of the public. The luxury today is the necessity of tomorrow." Luxury is the roadmaker of progress: it develops latent needs and makes people discontented. In so far as they think consistently, moralists who condemn luxury must recommend the comparatively desireless existence of the wild life roaming in the woods as the ultimate ideal of civilized life.

I'm proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is -- I could be just as read more

I'm proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is -- I could be just as proud for half the money.

Perhaps the most widespread misunderstanding of economics is that it applies solely to financial transactions. Frequently this leads to statements read more

Perhaps the most widespread misunderstanding of economics is that it applies solely to financial transactions. Frequently this leads to statements that "there are noneconomic values" to consider. There are, of course, noneconomic values. Indeed, there are only noneconomic values. Economics is not a value itself but merely a method of trading off one value against another.

The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.

The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.

The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury.

The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury.

There's no reason to be the richest man in the cemetery. You can't do any business from there.

There's no reason to be the richest man in the cemetery. You can't do any business from there.