My father's card-playing buddies treated me as a plain, ordinary, commonplace kid destined for mediocrity - or less. I suppose they expected that I would spend my life as a clerk of some sort. William E. Simon More Quotes by William E. Simon More Quotes From William E. Simon Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote. William E. Simon voting political people If you would not confront your neighbor and demand his money at the point of a gun to solve every new problem that may appear in your life, you should not allow the government to do it for you. William E. Simon liberty government gun If you really want to help the poor, help the rich. They're the ones who will invest, build more factories, create more jobs. William E. Simon want helping jobs Freedom is strangely ephemeral. It is something like breathing; one only becomes acutely aware of its importance when one is choking. William E. Simon breathing freedom love The American citizen must be made aware that today a relatively small group of people is proclaiming its purposes to be the will of the People. That elitist approach to government must be repudiated. William E. Simon groups government people The fact throughout history is that whenever government dominates the economic affairs of its citizenry, a free society is eroded, then destroyed, and a minority government ensues. Personal liberty without economic liberty is an absolute contradiction; the one cannot exist without the other. William E. Simon minorities liberty government Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion have always proved themselves intolerant of the spiritual liberty of others? William E. Simon liberty spiritual father Productivity and the growth of productivity must be the first economic consideration at all times, not the last. That is the source of technological innovation, jobs, and wealth. William E. Simon innovation growth jobs The advantage of the cauliflower is that if all else fails, you can always cover it with melted cheese and eat it. William E. Simon cheese advantage failing Infinitely more important than sharing one's material wealth is sharing the wealth of ourselves-our time and energy, our passion and commitment, and, above all, our love. William E. Simon generosity passion commitment Friedmans influence reaches far beyond the academic community and the world of economics. Rather than lock himself in an ivory tower, he has joined the fray to fight for the survival of this great country of ours. William E. Simon ivory-tower fighting country The nation ought to have a tax system which looks like someone designed it on purpose. William E. Simon political purpose looks Achievers must not be penalized or parasites rewarded if we aspire to a healthy, productive, and ethical society. William E. Simon parasites ethical healthy I continue to believe that the American people have a love-hate relationship with inflation. They hate inflation but love everything that causes it. William E. Simon hate believe people Personal liberty without economic liberty is an absolute contradiction; the one cannot exist without the other. William E. Simon economic libertarian liberty Writing checks for charities is necessary and important. But it can't compare with corporal works of mercy, which are infinitely greater. William E. Simon charity important writing Trading demands total concentration and the ability to do several things at once while instantly recalling trading prices from the day, or week, before. William E. Simon day things ability week The nation should have a tax system that looks like someone designed it on purpose. William E. Simon nation someone purpose looks Disagreement on issues doesn't mean 'dissension.' All it means is that honest men can differ in their approach. You lay out your positions, and president makes a decision. William E. Simon your you decision men By the mid-1950s, the young bond traders on the Street were becoming more and more of a fraternity. We organized informal luncheons every Thursday in an effort to educate financial writers, who knew next to nothing about municipal bonds. William E. Simon bond street nothing effort
