Ludwig von Mises ( 10 of 64 )
The meaning of economic freedom is this: that the individual is in a position to choose the way in which read more
The meaning of economic freedom is this: that the individual is in a position to choose the way in which he wants to integrate himself into the totality of society.
What pays under capitalism is satisfying the common man, the customer. The more people you satisfy, the better for you.
What pays under capitalism is satisfying the common man, the customer. The more people you satisfy, the better for you.
...the only means to well-being is to increase the quantity of products. This is what business aims at.
...the only means to well-being is to increase the quantity of products. This is what business aims at.
Against nature and within nature there is no freedom.
Against nature and within nature there is no freedom.
It is the worst of all superstitions to assume that the epistemological characteristics of one branch of knowledge must necessarily read more
It is the worst of all superstitions to assume that the epistemological characteristics of one branch of knowledge must necessarily be applicable to any other branch.
Society cannot contribute anything to the breeding and growing of ingenious men. A creative genius cannot be trained. There are read more
Society cannot contribute anything to the breeding and growing of ingenious men. A creative genius cannot be trained. There are no schools for creativeness. A genius is precisely a man who defies all schools and rules, who deviates from the traditional roads of routine and opens up new paths through land inaccessible before. A genius is always a teacher, never a pupil; he is always self-made.
Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.
Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.
Government is beating into submission, imprisoning, and killing...The authority of man-made law is entirely due to weapons of the constables read more
Government is beating into submission, imprisoning, and killing...The authority of man-made law is entirely due to weapons of the constables who enforce obedience to its provisions.
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.
Society is only possible on these terms, that the individual finds therein a strengthening of his own ego and his read more
Society is only possible on these terms, that the individual finds therein a strengthening of his own ego and his own will.
