Economic Freedom Quotes

• Political freedom cannot exist without economic freedom; a free mind and a free market are corollaries.

  Ayn Rand

  Freedom, Political, Mind

  Ayn Rand (1963). “For the New Intellectual: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (50th Anniversary Edition)”, p.20, Penguin

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• And the whole world, the whole world that believes in freedom, whether you're talking about personal freedom, economic freedom, religious freedom, they look to the United States for leadership; and you're part of that leadership.

  Don Nickles

  Leadership, Religious, Believe

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• The idea that political freedom can be preserved in the absence of economic freedom, and vice versa, is an illusion. Political freedom is the corollary of economic freedom.

  Ludwig von Mises

  Ideas, Political, Vices

  Ludwig Von Mises, Murray Newton Rothbard (1980). “Planning for freedom, and sixteen other essays and addresses”, Libertarian Press, Incorporated

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• The lack of economic freedom could be a very major reason for loss of liberty, liberty of life.

  Amartya Sen

  Loss, Liberty, Reason

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  Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon.

  Winston Churchill

  Inspirational, Horse, Business

  The Economist, July 6, 2012.

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• Freedom in economic arrangements is itself a component of freedom broadly understood, so economic freedom is an end in itself ... Economic freedom is also an indispensable means toward the achievement of political freedom.

  Milton Friedman

  Mean, Achievement, Political

  Capitalism and Freedom ch. 1 (1962)

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• There is in fact a manly and legitimate passion for equality that spurs all men to wish to be strong and esteemed. This passion tends to elevate the lesser to the rank of the greater. But one also finds in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to want to bring the strong down to their level, and which reduces men to preferring equality in servitude to inequality in freedom.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Freedom, Equality, America

  "Democracy in America". Book by Alexis de Tocqueville. Chapter III, Part I, 1835.

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• The case for trade is not just monetary, but moral. Economic freedom creates habits of liberty. And habits of liberty create expectations of democracy.

  George W. Bush

  Expectations, Democracy, Liberty

  George Walker Bush, John W. Dietrich (2005). “The George W. Bush Foreign Policy Reader: Presidential Speeches and Commentary”, p.29, M.E. Sharpe

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• I follow a set of principles; I follow the Constitution. And that's what I base my votes on. Limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty.

  Justin Amash

  Government, Liberty, Principles

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• Freedom is the by-product of economic surplus.

  Aneurin Bevan

  Freedom, Political, Politics

  David A. Reisman, Aneurin Bevan (1996). “In Place of Fear”, Pickering & Chatto Publishers

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• A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Wise, Wisdom, Men

  Thomas Jefferson (2011). “Jefferson on Freedom: Wisdom, Advice, and Hints on Freedom, Democracy, and the American Way”, p.65, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• The so-called liberals of today have the very popular idea that freedom of speech, of thought, of the press, freedom of religion, freedom from imprisonment without trial-that all these freedoms can be preserved in the absence of what is called economic freedom. They do not realize that, in a system where there is no market, where the government directs everything, all those other freedoms are illusory, even if they are made into laws and written up in constitutions.

  Ludwig von Mises

  Freedom, Ideas, Government

  Ludwig Von Mises (2006). “Economic Policy: Thoughts for Today and Tomorrow”, p.18, Ludwig von Mises Institute

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• But let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?

  Walter E. Williams

  Freedom, Justice, Society

  "All it takes is guts". Book by Walter E. Williams, 1987.

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• I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible. ... because I believe the big problem is not taxes, the big problem is spending.

  Milton Friedman

  Believe, Cutting, Thinking

  "Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and other big government Republicans hijacked the conservative cause". Book by Richard A Viguerie, p. 46, 2006.

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• Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.

  Frederic Bastiat

  Men, Law, Liberty

  Frederic Bastiat (2006). “The Law”, p.6, Cosimo, Inc.

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• Without economic development, any potential for political openness and freedom will be questionable.

  Jose Maria Aznar

  Political, Development, Economic

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• Economic freedom is ... an indispensable means toward the achievement of political freedom.

  Milton Friedman

  Freedom, Mean, Independent

  Capitalism and Freedom ch. 1 (1962)

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• You must distinguish sharply between being pro free enterprise and being pro business.

  Milton Friedman

  Enterprise, Free Enterprise

  Milton Friedman - Big Business, Big Government, www.youtube.com. September 14, 2012.

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  Government 'help' to business is just as disastrous as government persecution... the only way a government can be of service to national prosperity is by keeping its hands off.

  Ayn Rand

  Witty, Business, Government

  Ayn Rand, Nathaniel Branden, Alan Greenspan, Robert Hessen (1986). “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal”, p.131, Penguin

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• Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

  P. J. O'Rourke

  Inspirational, Funny, Money

  P. J. O'Rourke (2007). “Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government”, p.24, Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

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• We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Government Welfare, Government Debt, Historical

  Thomas Jefferson (2011). “Jefferson on Freedom: Wisdom, Advice, and Hints on Freedom, Democracy, and the American Way”, p.26, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• An almost hysterical antagonism toward the gold standard is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions. They seem to sense... that gold and economic freedom are inseparable.

  Alan Greenspan

  Freedom, Issues, Gold

  Ayn Rand, Nathaniel Branden, Alan Greenspan, Robert Hessen (1986). “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal”, p.89, Penguin

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• The world's problem is not too many people, but lack of political and economic freedom.

  Julian Simon

  People, Political, World

  Julian Lincoln Simon (1998). “The Ultimate Resource 2”, p.495, Princeton University Press

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• Free men are not equal and equal men are not free.

  Lawrence Reed

  Men, Equal, Free Man

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• Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

  Patrick Henry

  Death, Sweet, Freedom

  Speech in Virginia Convention, Richmond, Va., 23 Mar. 1775.

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