Top 25 Quotes by William Graham Sumner of 87 - Page 4

Undoubtedly there are, in connection with each of these things, cases of fraud, swindling, and other financial crimes; that is to say, the greed and selfishness of men are perpetual.

Undoubtedly there are, in connection with each of these things, cases of fraud, swindling, and other financial crimes; that is to say, the greed and selfishness of men are perpetual.

William Graham Sumner

Men, Hype, Greed

William Graham Sumner (1903). “What Social Classes Owe to Each Other”, p.41, Ludwig von Mises Institute

It is often said that the earth belongs to the race, as if raw land was a boon, or gift.

William Graham Sumner

Race, Land, Earth

William Graham Sumner (1903). “What Social Classes Owe to Each Other”, p.44, Ludwig von Mises Institute

Society needs first of all to be free from meddlersthat is, to be let alone.

William Graham Sumner

Needs, Firsts

I have before me a newspaper slip on which a writer expresses the opinion that no one should be allowed to possess more than one million dollars' worth of property.

William Graham Sumner

Dollars, Opinion, Newspapers

William Graham Sumner (1903). “What Social Classes Owe to Each Other”, p.38, Ludwig von Mises Institute

It used to be believed that the parent had unlimited claims on the child and rights over him. In a truer view of the matter, we are coming to see that the rights are on the side of the child and the duties on the side of the parent.

William Graham Sumner

Children, Rights, Views

The Forgotten Man's Almanac 14 October (1919)

Then, again, the ability to organize and conduct industrial, commercial, or financial enterprises is rare; the great captains of industry are as rare as great generals.

William Graham Sumner

Captains, Financial, Ability

William Graham Sumner (1903). “What Social Classes Owe to Each Other”, p.46, Ludwig von Mises Institute

It generally troubles them [the reformers] not a whit that their remedy implies a complete reconstruction of society, or even a reconstitution of human nature.

William Graham Sumner

Human Nature, Trouble, Reconstruction

Civil liberty is the status of the man who is guaranteed by law and civil institutions the exclusive employment of all his own powers for his own welfare.

William Graham Sumner

Men, Law, Liberty

William Graham Sumner (2007). “The Forgotten Man and Other Essays”, p.472, Cosimo, Inc.

The Forgotten Man... works, he votes, generally he prays-but he always pays-yes, above all, he pays. He does not want an office; his name never gets into the newspaper except when he gets married or dies. He keeps production going on.... He does not frequent the grocery or talk politics at the tavern. Consequently, he is forgotten.... All the burdens fall on him, or on her, for it is time to remember that the Forgotten Man is not seldom a woman.

William Graham Sumner

Fall, Men, Names

"The Forgotten Man" (1883) See Franklin Roosevelt 3

The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living generally find that the world pays its 'debt' in the penitentiary or the poor house.

William Graham Sumner

Life, Men, House

William Graham Sumner (1913). “Earth-hunger and other essays”

It is a beneficent incident of the ownership of land that a pioneer who reduces it to use, and helps to lay the foundations of a new State, finds a profit in the increasing value of land as the new State grows up.

William Graham Sumner

Growing Up, Land, Foundation

William Graham Sumner (1903). “What Social Classes Owe to Each Other”, p.43, Ludwig von Mises Institute