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 MisesRead
Liberalism and capitalism address themselves to the cool, well-balanced mind. They proceed by strict logic, eliminating any appeal to the emotions. Socialism, on the contrary, works on the emotions, tries to violate logical considerations by rousing a sense of personal interest and to stifle the voice of reason by awakening primitive instincts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote contrasts the logical nature of liberalism and capitalism with the emotional appeal of socialism.
Ludwig Von Mises highlights the fundamental differences between liberalism/capitalism and socialism. He argues that the former relies on rationality and logical reasoning, targeting individuals with a calm and rational mindset, while socialism appeals to emotions and instincts, often bypassing logical thought processes. This perspective emphasizes the value of reason in economic and political systems.
Themes
LiberalismCapitalismSocialismEmotionLogicPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate discussing economic systems, you might cite this quote to emphasize the contrasts in approaches.
More from Ludwig Von Mises
All quotes →Wars of aggression are popular nowadays with those nations convinced that only victory and conquest could improve their material well-being.
Ludwig Von MisesRead
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 MisesRead
The most serious dangers for American freedom and the American way of life do not come from without.
Ludwig Von MisesRead
The public firm can nowhere maintain itself in free competition with the private firm; it is possible today only where it has a monopoly that excludes competition. Even that alone is evidence of its lesser economic productivity.
Ludwig Von MisesRead
Each epoch has found in the Gospels what it sought to find there, and has overlooked what it wished to overlook.
Ludwig Von MisesRead
Similar quotes
A government resting on the minority is an aristocracy, not a Republic, and could not be safe with a numerical and physical force against it, without a standing army, an enslaved press and a disarmed populace.
James MadisonRead
To speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.
Henry David ThoreauRead
True republicanism is the sovereignty of the people. There are natural and imprescriptible rights which an entire nation has no right to violate.
Marquis De LafayetteRead
Between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos.
John MarshallRead
Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government.
Alexander HamiltonRead
The U.S. has no friends, only interests.
John Foster DullesRead