The market system is the basis of our civilization. Its only alternative is the Führer principle. Ludwig von Mises More Quotes by Ludwig von Mises More Quotes From Ludwig von Mises Capitalism and socialism are two distinct patterns of social organization. Private control of the means of production and public control are contradictory notions and not merely contrary notions. There is no such thing as a mixed economy, a system that would stand midway between capitalism and socialism. Ludwig von Mises organizationtwomean The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion. Ludwig von Mises public-opinionresistancestruggle Profits are the driving force of the market economy. The greater the profits, the better the needs of the consumers are supplied... He who serves the public best, makes the highest profits. Ludwig von Mises freedombusinessneeds It is important to remember that government interference always means either violent action or the threat of such action. Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning. Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom. Ludwig von Mises prison-guardsmenmean To the grumbler who complains about the unfairness of the market system only one piece of advice can be given: If you want to acquire wealth, then try to satisfy the public by offering them something that is cheaper or which they like better....Equality under the law gives you the power to challenge every millionaire. Ludwig von Mises equality-under-the-lawofferinggiving The fundamental law of the market is: the customer is always right. Ludwig von Mises customersfundamentalslaw There is no means by which anyone can evade his personal responsibility. Whoever neglects to examine to the best of his abilities all the problems involved voluntarily surrenders his birthright to a selfappointed elite of supermen. In such vital matters blind reliance upon 'experts' and uncritical acceptance of popular catchwords and prejudices is tantamount to the abandonment of self-determination and to yielding to other people's domination. As conditions are today, nothing can be more important to every intelligent man than economics. His own fate and that of his progeny are at stake. Ludwig von Mises determinationresponsibilitymean Whoever wishes peace among peoples must fight statism. Ludwig von Mises fightingwishwar It cannot be denied that Fascism and similar movements aiming at the establishment of dictatorships are full of the best intentions and that their intervention has, for the moment, saved European civilization. The merit that Fascism has thereby won for itself will live on eternally in history. Ludwig von Mises meritmovementcivilization 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 Mises politicalvicesideas The entrepreneur profits to the extent he has succeeded in serving the consumers better than other people have done. Ludwig von Mises entrepreneurdonepeople Capitalism is essentially a system of mass production for the satisfaction of the needs of the masses. It pours a horn of plenty upon the common man. It has raised the average standard of living to a height never dreamed of in earlier ages. It has made accessible to millions of people enjoyments which a few generations ago were only within the reach of a small élite. Ludwig von Mises averagemenpeople Under capitalism everybody is the architect of his own fortune. Ludwig von Mises kwanzaaarchitectcharacter The elimination of profit, whatever methods may be resorted to for its execution, must transform society into a senseless jumble. It would create poverty for all. Ludwig von Mises executionpovertymay Unemployment doles can have no other effect than the perpetuation of unemployment. Ludwig von Mises effectsunemployment If you increase the quantity of money, you bring about the lowering of the purchasing power of the monetary unit. Ludwig von Mises purchasing-powerincreaseworld Freedom is indivisible. As soon as one starts to restrict it, one enters upon a decline on which it is difficult to stop. Ludwig von Mises indivisibledeclinedifficult War is harmful, not only to the conquered but to the conqueror. 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. Only economic action has created the wealth around us; labor, not the profession of arms, brings happiness. Peace builds, war destroys. Ludwig von Mises essencewarfather No people and no part of a people shall be held against its will in a political association that it does not want. Ludwig von Mises politicaldoepeople Laissez faire does not mean: let soulless mechanical forces operate. It means: let individuals choose how they want to cooperate in the social division of labor and let them determine what the entrepreneurs should produce. Ludwig von Mises division-of-laborentrepreneurmean
