Everything brought forward in favor of Socialism during the last hundred years, in thousands of writings and speeches, all the blood which has been spilt by the supporters of Socialism, cannot make socialism workable. Ludwig von Mises More Quotes by Ludwig von Mises More Quotes From Ludwig von Mises A wealthy man can preserve his wealth only by continuing to serve the consumers in the most efficient way. Ludwig von Mises wealth men way 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. Ludwig von Mises war peace father The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning. Ludwig von Mises enforcement essentials government This is the difference between slavery and freedom. The slave must do what his superior orders him to do, but the free citizen-and this is what freedom means-is in a position to choose his own way of life. Ludwig von Mises differences order mean The gold standard did not collapse. Governments abolished it in order to pave the way for inflation. The whole grim apparatus of oppression and coercion, policemen, customs guards, penal courts, prisons, in some countries even executioners, had to be put into action in order to destroy the gold standard. Ludwig von Mises government order country The characteristic mark of economic history under capitalism is unceasing economic progress, a steady increase in the quantity of capital goods available, and a continuous trend toward an improvement in the general standard of living. Ludwig von Mises economic-history progress trends Economic prosperity is not so much a material problem; it is, first of all, an intellectual, spiritual, and moral problem. Ludwig von Mises intellectual spiritual firsts Taxing profits is tantamount to taxing success. Ludwig von Mises profit Manufacturing and commercial monopolies owe their origin not to a tendency imminent in a capitalist economy but to governmental interventionist policy directed against free trade and laissez faire. Ludwig von Mises capitalist-economy libertarian liberty Inequality of wealth and incomes is an essential feature of the market economy. It is the implement that makes the consumers supreme in giving them the power to force all those engaged in production to comply with their orders. It forces all those engaged in production to the utmost exertion in the service of the consumers. It makes competition work. He who best serves the consumers profits most and accumulates riches. Ludwig von Mises competition giving order There is simply no other choice than this: either to abstain from interference in the free play of the market, or to delegate the entire management of production and distribution to the government. Either capitalism or socialism: there exists no middle way. Ludwig von Mises government choices play Government is the only institution that can take a valuable commodity like paper, and make it worthless by applying ink. Ludwig von Mises ink government paper Public works are not accomplished by the miraculous power of a magic wand. They are paid for by funds taken away from the citizens. Ludwig von Mises magic liberty taken There is but one means available to improve the material conditions of mankind: to accelerate the growth of capital accumulated as against the growth in population. The greater the amount of capital invested per head of the worker, the more and better goods can be produced and consumed. This is what capitalism, the much abused profit system, has brought about and brings about daily anew. Yet, most present-day governments and political parties are eager to destroy this system. Ludwig von Mises party government mean There is no western, capitalistic country in which the conditions of the masses have not improved in an unprecedented way. Ludwig von Mises mass country way What is called economic progress is the joint effect of the activities of the three progressive groups-or classes-of the savers, the scientist-inventors, and the entrepreneurs, operating in a market economy as far as it is not sabotaged by the endeavors of the nonprogressive majority of the routinists and the public policies supported by them. Ludwig von Mises progress entrepreneur class ...this remedy is the power of the citizens; they have to prevent the establishment of such an autocratic regime that arrogates to itself a higher wisdom than that of the average citizen. This is the fundamental difference between freedom and serfdom. Ludwig von Mises differences freedom average The planner is a potential dictator who wants to deprive all other people of the power to plan and act according to their own plans. He aims at one thing only: the exclusive absolute preeminence of his own plan. Ludwig von Mises dictator want people The word "Capitalism" expresses, for our age, the sum of all evil. Even the opponents of Socialism are dominated by socialist ideas. Ludwig von Mises age evil ideas Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities. Ludwig von Mises doctors hard-work self
