Mark Skousen Quotes

Quotes about:

• The triumph of persuasion over force is the sign of a civilized society.

  Mark Skousen

  Liberty, Libertarian, Triumph

  "Civilization Held Together by Persuasion, Not Force". The Religion & Liberty Interview, acton.org. July 20, 2010.

  47 Copy quote

• Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success.

  Mark Skousen

  Failure, Pay, Ultimate Success

  18 Copy quote

• No one spends someone elses money as carefully as he spends his own.

  Mark Skousen

  Market Economy, Free Market, Economy And Economics

  Mark Skousen (2013). “Economic Logic Fourth Edition”, p.674, Regnery Publishing

  7 Copy quote

• Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure.

  Mark Skousen

  Taxation, Levels, Pay

  15 Copy quote

• Most of Marx's predictions have failed to materialize, and his labor theory of value and other ideas have been proven wrong. Marx failed to recognize the incentive system built into the capitalist model - consumer choice and the profit motive of the entrepreneur. The irony is that capitalism, not socialism or Marxism, that has liberated the worker from the chains of poverty, monopoly, war, and oppression, and has better achieved Marx's vision of a millennium of hope, peace, abundance, leisure, and aesthetic expression for the 'full' human being.

  Mark Skousen

  War, Expression, Ideas

  10 Copy quote

• In short, my vision of a responsible free society is one in which we discourage evil, but do not prohibit it. We make our children and students aware of the consequences of drug abuse and other forms of irresponsible behavior. But after all our persuading, if they still want to use harmful drugs, that is their privilege. In a free society, individuals must have the right to do right or wrong, as long as they don't threaten or infringe upon the rights or property of others. They must also suffer the consequences of their actions, as it is from consequences that they learn to choose properly

  Mark Skousen

  Freedom, Children, Rights

  12 Copy quote

• One suggestion my wife and I have used in our personal finance courses we teach at college is simply writing down all expenditures and seeing where the money goes. That alone will cause heads of households to think twice about x, y or z expenditure, and to consider carefully whether they really need something or not.

  Mark Skousen

  Writing, College, Thinking

  7 Copy quote

• You can judge a man by the books in his library.

  Mark Skousen

  Book, Men, Judging

  8 Copy quote

• The worst thing that can happen to an investor is to make money on his first trade; he thinks investing is easy

  Mark Skousen

  Thinking, Investing, Firsts

  4 Copy quote

• We shall never change our political leaders until we change the people who elect them.

  Mark Skousen

  People, Leader, Political

  16 Copy quote

• The fundamental flaw in Social Security and Medicare is that they violate the 'welfare principle' in economics. The welfare principle forms the fundamental basis of all charitable work in churches and other private organizations: assist those who need help, and equally important, don't assist individuals who can take care of themselves.

  Mark Skousen

  Charitable Work, Organization, Important

  8 Copy quote

• Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to chose, the citizenry will probably make the wrong choice. Legislators do not think any more in terms of persuading people; they feel the need to force their agenda on the public at the point of a bayonet and the barrel of a gun, in the name of the IRS, the SEC, the FDA, the DEA, the EPA, or a multitude of other ABCs of government authority.

  Mark Skousen

  Believe, Thinking, Gun

  4 Copy quote

• It is business that generates the jobs, income and taxes that keep a country going.

  Mark Skousen

  Country, Jobs, Income

  6 Copy quote

• Gold and Silver have always had value, never gone to zero. Can you say the same for stocks and bonds?

  Mark Skousen

  Zero, Gold, Gone

  5 Copy quote

• I've felt for some time that economics needs to be taught differently by economists who actually have had experience making a payroll or investing on Wall Street. When economics is taught by pure academics, watch out.

  Mark Skousen

  Wall, Watches, Needs

  4 Copy quote

• Back in 1960, the paper dollar and the silver dollar both were the same value. They circulated next to each other. Today? The paper dollar has lost 95% of its value, while the silver dollar is worth $34, and produced a 2-3 times rise in real value. Since we left the gold standard in 1971, both gold and silver have become superior inflation hedges.

  Mark Skousen

  Real, Gold, Dollars

  4 Copy quote

• All workers, whether they are employed in the private or public sector, should avoid living 'paycheck to paycheck.' Studies show that every household wastes 10% or more of its salary or income on unnecessary expenditures or by not taking the time to shop for better prices. It's all a matter of proper budgeting.

  Mark Skousen

  Salary, Income, Budgeting

  8 Copy quote

• The reality is that business and investment spending are the true leading indicators of the economy and the stock market. If you want to know where the stock market is headed, forget about consumer spending and retail sales figures. Look to business spending, price inflation, interest rates, and productivity gains.

  Mark Skousen

  Reality, Want, Gains

  The Freeman: Ideas on Liberty, Vol. 60, Nr. 3-10, (p. 7), 2010.

  4 Copy quote

• Here in America, government began as a tool to assure freedom. It gradually turned into a hideously expensive political toy designed to redistribute your wealth and control most aspects of your business and private life.

  Mark Skousen

  Government, America, Political

  4 Copy quote

• When everyone is a contrarian, nobody is a contrarian

  Mark Skousen

  4 Copy quote

• The profit motive promotes economic growth by creating better products at cheaper prices.

  Mark Skousen

  Creating, Growth, Economic

  Mark Skousen (2013). “Economic Logic Fourth Edition”, p.674, Regnery Publishing

  7 Copy quote

• Bitcoin is not an actual physical coin, and if computers are shut down, you can't buy or sell them. That's why nothing will ever replace gold and silver coins themselves, and all investors should have them at home or in a safe deposit box.

  Mark Skousen

  Home, Should Have, Gold

  8 Copy quote

• In a free society, individuals have the right to do right or wrong, as long as they don't threaten or infringe upon the rights or property of others.

  Mark Skousen

  Rights, Long, Society

  7 Copy quote

• Fraud is common when you give away billions. Fraud related to Hurricane Katrina spending is estimated to top $2 billion. In addition, debit cards provided to hurricane victims were used to pay for Caribbean vacations, NFL tickets, Dom Perignon champagne, 'Girls Gone Wild' videos, and at least one sex change operation.

  Mark Skousen

  Girl, Sex, Vacation

  53 Copy quote

• I only have disdain for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He raised taxes and has increased regulations. What else is new? He's a bully who wants to micro-manage people's lives by mandate, not persuasion.

  Mark Skousen

  New York, Cities, People

  4 Copy quote

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