A consumer is a shopper who is sore about something.

A consumer is a shopper who is sore about something.

...we see that there are two different kinds of...societies: (a) parasitic societies and (b) producing societies. The former are those read more

...we see that there are two different kinds of...societies: (a) parasitic societies and (b) producing societies. The former are those which live from hunting, fishing, or merely gleaning. By their economic activities they do not increase, but rather decrease, the amount of wealth in the world. The second kind of societies, producing societies, live by agricultural and pastoral activities. By these activities they seek to increase the amount of wealth in the world.

A market is the combined behavior of thousands of people responding to information, misinformation and whim.

A market is the combined behavior of thousands of people responding to information, misinformation and whim.

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 wake up every morning and thank God I’m not a chartered accountant any longer, but involved with property.

I wake up every morning and thank God I’m not a chartered accountant any longer, but involved with property.

The truth is that economic competition is the very opposite of competition in the animal kingdom. It is not a read more

The truth is that economic competition is the very opposite of competition in the animal kingdom. It is not a competition in the grabbing off of scarce nature-given supplies, as it is in the animal kingdom. Rather, it is a competition in the positive creation of new and additional wealth.

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.

My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.

My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.

I've been promoted to middle management. I never thought I'd sink so low.

I've been promoted to middle management. I never thought I'd sink so low.