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Ludwig von Mises Quotes - Page 9

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In the bureaucratic machine of socialism the way toward promotion is not achievement but the favor of the superiors.

In the bureaucratic machine of socialism the way toward promotion is not achievement but the favor of the superiors.

Ludwig von Mises
Achievement, Machines, Favors
Ludwig Von Mises (1944). “Bureaucracy”

War is harmful, not only to the conquered but to the conqueror. Society has arisen out of the works of peace; the essence of society is peacemaking. Peace and not war is the father of all things. Only economic action has created the wealth around us; labor, not the profession of arms, brings happiness. Peace builds, war destroys.

Ludwig von Mises
War, Father, Essence
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Socialism - An Economic and Sociological Analysis: The Economist”, p.44, VM eBooks

There is no western, capitalistic country in which the conditions of the masses have not improved in an unprecedented way.

Ludwig von Mises
Country, Way, Mass
Ludwig Von Mises (2006). “Economic Policy: Thoughts for Today and Tomorrow”, p.13, Ludwig von Mises Institute

The alcoholic and the drug addict harm only themselves by their behavior; the person who violates the rules of morality governing mans life in society harms not only himself, but everyone.

Ludwig von Mises
Drug, Morality, Behavior
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Liberalism: The Classical Tradition: The Economist”, p.22, VM eBooks

The main characteristic of collectivism is that it does not take notice of the individual's will and moral self-determination. In the light of its philosophy the individual is born into a collective and it is "natural" and proper for him to behave as members of this collective are expected to behave. Expected by whom? Of course, by those individuals to whom, by the mysterious decrees of some mysterious agency, the task of determining the collective will and directing the actions of the collective has been entrusted.

Ludwig von Mises
Determination, Philosophy, Agency

Only stilted pedants can conceive the idea that there are absolute norms to tell what is beautiful and what is not. They try to derive from the works of the past a code of rules with which, as they fancy, the writers and artists of the future should comply. But the genius does not cooperate with the pundit.

Ludwig von Mises
Beautiful, Artist, Past
Ludwig von Mises (1985). “Theory and History”, p.63, Ludwig von Mises Institute

The usual terminology of political language is stupid. What is 'left' and what is 'right'? Why should Hitler be 'right' and Stalin, his temporary friend, be 'left'? Who is 'reactionary' and who is 'progressive'? Reaction against an unwise policy is not to be condemned. And progress towards chaos is not to be commended.

Ludwig von Mises
Stupid, Political Language, Progress

The sharper the competition, the better it serves its social function to improve economic production.

Ludwig von Mises
Competition, Economic, Social

It is untrue that some are poor because others are rich. If an order of society in which incomes were equal replaced the capitalist order, everyone would become poorer.

Ludwig von Mises
Order, Income, Rich
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Socialism - An Economic and Sociological Analysis: The Economist”, p.397, VM eBooks

It is impossible to describe any human action if one does not refer to the meaning the actor sees in the stimulus as well as in the end his response is aiming at.

Ludwig von Mises
Doe, Actors, Action
Ludwig Von Mises (1962). “The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science: An Essay on Method”

Government is an apparatus of compulsion and coercion.

Ludwig von Mises
Government, Coercion, Compulsion

The law-abiding citizen by his labor serves both himself and his fellow man and thereby integrates himself peacefully into the social order. The robber, on the other hand, is intent, not on honest toil, but on the forcible appropriation of the fruits of others' labor.

Ludwig von Mises
Men, Hands, Order
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Liberalism: The Classical Tradition: The Economist”, p.137, VM eBooks

Those fighting for free enterprise and free competition do not defend the interests of those rich today. They want a free hand left to unknown men who will be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Ludwig von Mises
Fighting, Men, Hands
Ludwig Von Mises (1963). “Human action: a treatise on economics”

Neither the entrepreneurs nor the farmers nor the capitalists determine what has to be produced. The consumers do that.

Ludwig von Mises
Freedom, Entrepreneur, Liberty
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Human Action”, p.333, Lulu Press, Inc

Under capitalism the common man enjoys amenities which in ages gone by were unknown and therefore inaccessible even to the richest people. But, of course, these motorcars, television sets and refrigerators do not make a man happy. In the instant in which he acquires them, he may feel happier than he did before. But as soon as some of his wishes are satisfied, new wishes spring up. Such is human nature.

Ludwig von Mises
Spring, Men, People

It is inherent in the nature of the capitalistic economy that, in the final analysis, the employment of the factors of production is aimed only toward serving the wishes of consumers.

Ludwig von Mises
Wish, Finals, Analysis
Ludwig Von Mises (1978). “On the Manipulation of Money and Credit”, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. : Free Market Books

The attainment of the economic aims of man presupposes peace.

Ludwig von Mises
Money, War, Men
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Socialism - An Economic and Sociological Analysis: The Economist”, p.48, VM eBooks

There is an inherent tendency in all governmental power to recognize no restraints on its operation and to extend the sphere of its dominion as much as possible. To control everything, to leave no room for anything to happen of its own accord without the interference of the authorities--th is is the goal for which every ruler secretly strives.

Ludwig von Mises
Goal, Dominion, Rooms
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Liberalism: The Classical Tradition: The Economist”, p.53, VM eBooks

The living is not perfect because it is liable to change; the dead is not perfect because it does not live.

Ludwig von Mises
Perfect, Doe, Liable
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Human Action”, p.89, Lulu Press, Inc

Facts per se can neither prove nor refute anything. Everything is decided by the interpretation and explanation of the facts, by the ideas and the theories.

Ludwig von Mises
Ideas, Facts, Interpretation
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Socialism - An Economic and Sociological Analysis: The Economist”, p.465, VM eBooks

Fortunes cannot grow; someone has to increase them.

Ludwig von Mises
Increase, Fortune, Grows
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Socialism - An Economic and Sociological Analysis: The Economist”, p.342, VM eBooks

People do not cooperate under the division of labor because they love or should love one another. They cooperate because this best serves their own interests.

Ludwig von Mises
Division Of Labor, People, Love One Another
Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Human Action”, p.209, Lulu Press, Inc

The capitalist system was termed "capitalism" not by a friend of the system, but by an individual who considered it to be the worst of all historical systems, the greatest evil that had ever befallen mankind. That man was Karl Marx.

Ludwig von Mises
Men, Evil, Historical
Ludwig Von Mises (2006). “Economic Policy: Thoughts for Today and Tomorrow”, p.10, Ludwig von Mises Institute

The worst law is better than bureaucratic tyranny.

Ludwig von Mises
Law, Tyranny, Worst
Ludwig Von Mises (1969). “Bureaucracy”, ICON Group International

War can really cause no economic boom, at least not directly, since an increase in wealth never does result from destruction of goods.

Ludwig von Mises
Money, War, Doe

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