But there is merit even in the mentally retarded legislator. He asks the questions that everyone is afraid to ask for fear of seeming simple. John Kenneth Galbraith More Quotes by John Kenneth Galbraith More Quotes From John Kenneth Galbraith Technology, under all circumstances, leads to planning; in its higher manifestations it may put the problems of planning beyond the reach of the industrial firm. Technological compulsions, and not ideology or political will, will require the firm to seek the help and protection of the state. John Kenneth Galbraith political-will technology may The inborn instability of capitalism has been part of the history of the system for several hundred years. John Kenneth Galbraith capitalism hundred years Financial capacity and political perspicacity are inversely correlated. Long-run salvation by men of business has never been highly regarded if it means disturbance of orderly life and convenience in the present. So inaction will be advocated in the present even though it means deep trouble in the future. Here, at least equally with Communism, lies the threat to Capitalism. It is what causes men who know that things are going quite wrong to say that things are fundamentally sound. John Kenneth Galbraith running mean lying I am for a close global association in trade and financial matters, rather than the opposite possibility of excessive nationalism, as manifested in the two world wars. John Kenneth Galbraith opposites war two The miserable consumption of the poor is partly the result of the ostentatious demands of the rich. There isn't enough for both, and the latter get far more than they need...But could anything seriously be done about it? John Kenneth Galbraith demand done needs The huge capacity to purchase submission that goes with any large sum of money, well, this we have. This is a power of which we should all be aware. John Kenneth Galbraith submission capacity should There is something wonderful in seeing a wrong-headed majority assailed by truth. John Kenneth Galbraith majority politics wonderful I think without a doubt, that what is called "financial genius" is merely a rising market. John Kenneth Galbraith genius doubt thinking In the conventional wisdom of conservatives, the modern search for security is regularly billed as the greatest single threat to economic progress. John Kenneth Galbraith economic modern progress I think the role of the Federal Reserve is enormously exaggerated. John Kenneth Galbraith federal-reserve roles thinking We all agree that pessimism is a mark of superior intellect. John Kenneth Galbraith pessimism mark agreement A drastic reduction in weapons competition following a general release from the commitment to the Cold War would be sharply in conflict with the needs of the industrial system. John Kenneth Galbraith competition war commitment A bad book is the worse that it cannot repent. It has not been the devil's policy to keep the masses of mankind in ignorance; but finding that they will read, he is doing all in his power to poison their books. John Kenneth Galbraith ignorance reading book Marx profoundly affected those who did not accept his system. His influence extended to those who least supposed they were subject to it. John Kenneth Galbraith subjects influence accepting The questions that are beyond the reach of economics-the beauty, dignity, pleasure and durability of life-may be inconvenient but they are important. John Kenneth Galbraith inquiry important may No hungry man who is also sober can be persuaded to use his last dollar for anything but food. John Kenneth Galbraith dollars use men Inventions that are not made, like babies that are not born, are rarely missed. In the absence of new developments, old ones may seem very impressive for quite a long while. John Kenneth Galbraith baby science long The fully planned economy, so far from being unpopular, is warmly regarded by those who know it best. John Kenneth Galbraith economics economy knows In economics, unlike fiction and the theater, there is no harm in a premature disclosure of the plot: it is to see the changes just mentioned and others as an interlocked whole. John Kenneth Galbraith economics plot fiction In the market economy the price that is offered is counted upon to produce the result that is sought. John Kenneth Galbraith economy produce results