Inflation is the one form of taxation that can be imposed without legislation. – Milton Friedman
If even a small fraction of the money we now spend on trying to enforce drug prohibition were devoted to treatment and drug rehabilitation, in an atmosphere of compassion not punishment, the reduction in drug usage and in the harm done to users could be dramatic. – Milton Friedman
What kind of society isnt structured on greed? The problem of social organization is how to set up an arrangement under which greed will do the least harm; capitalism is that kind of a system. – Milton Friedman
Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesnt run on greed? You think Russia doesnt run on greed? You think China doesnt run on greed? What is greed? – Milton Friedman
The world runs on individuals pursuing their self interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didnt construct his theory under order from a, from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didnt revolutionize the automobile industry that way. – Milton Friedman
If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years thered be a shortage of sand. – Milton Friedman
The only way that has ever been discovered to have a lot of people cooperate together voluntarily is through the free market. And thats why its so essential to preserving individual freedom. – Milton Friedman
I am favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever its possible. – Milton Friedman
The power to do good is also the power to do harm. – Milton Friedman
Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned. – Milton Friedman
Universities exist to transmit knowledge and understanding of ideas and values to students not to provide entertainment for spectators or employment for athletes. – Milton Friedman
The black market was a way of getting around government controls. It was a way of enabling the free market to work. It was a way of opening up, enabling people. – Milton Friedman
The most important ways in which I think the Internet will affect the big issue is that it will make it more difficult for government to collect taxes. – Milton Friedman
Many people want the government to protect the consumer. A much more urgent problem is to protect the consumer from the government. – Milton Friedman
The Great Depression, like most other periods of severe unemployment, was produced by government mismanagement rather than by any inherent instability of the private economy. – Milton Friedman
Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program. – Milton Friedman
Most of the energy of political work is devoted to correcting the effects of mismanagement of government. – Milton Friedman
So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear. That there is no alternative way, so far discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a free enterprise system. – Milton Friedman
The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem. – Milton Friedman
Governments never learn. Only people learn. – Milton Friedman
