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70 Top Ludwig Von Mises Quotes To Enlighten Your Mind

Famous As: One of the Most Influential Economic and Political Thinkers of the 20th Century
Born On: September 29, 1881
Died On: October 10, 1973
Born In: Lviv, Ukraine
Died At Age: 92
Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises was a theoretical economist of the Austrian School, who was born in Austria but did most of his noted work in the United States and is regarded as one of the leading lights of the libertarian movement. He attended the University of Vienna and in 1906 he received his doctorate from law school at the University. However, it was as an economist that he made his mark on the world. He served the Austrian Chamber of Commerce as its Chief Economist and later on, he was employed at Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva as a professor before immigrating to the United States in 1940. Some of his most well-known theories include ‘quantity theory of money’, ‘the Austrian business cycle theory’ and ‘the economic calculation problem’; which gave rise to a new school of thought as far as economic research was concerned. In addition to that, Mises had a lot of influence on the latter day economists of the Austrian school including Friedrich Hayek, who used to be his student. Mises was one of the most influential economists in the modern era. The below collection of Ludwig von Mises most famous quotes has been excerpted from his writings, papers and thoughts. We bring to you a collection of sayings and quotes by Ludwig von Mises on individualism, hard work, socialism, luxury, democrats, politics, taxation, poverty and free-markets.
Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities.

Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities.

Ludwig von Mises
All rational action is in the first place individual action. Only the individual thinks. Only the individual reasons. Only the individual acts.

All rational action is in the first place individual action. Only the individual thinks. Only the individual reasons. Only the individual acts.

Ludwig von Mises
Once the principle is admitted that it is the duty of the government to protect the individual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be advanced against further encroachments.

Once the principle is admitted that it is the duty of the government to protect the individual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be advanced against further encroachments.

Ludwig von Mises
The Marxians love of democratic institutions was a stratagem only, a pious fraud for the deception of the masses. Within a socialist community there is no room left for freedom.

The Marxians love of democratic institutions was a stratagem only, a pious fraud for the deception of the masses. Within a socialist community there is no room left for freedom.

Ludwig von Mises
If history could teach us anything, it would be that private property is inextricably linked with civilization

If history could teach us anything, it would be that private property is inextricably linked with civilization

Ludwig von Mises
He who only wishes and hopes does not interfere actively with the course of events and with the shaping of his own destiny.

He who only wishes and hopes does not interfere actively with the course of events and with the shaping of his own destiny.

Ludwig von Mises
He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them.

He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them.

Ludwig von Mises
The masses do not like those who surpass them in any regard. The average man envies and hates those who are different.

The masses do not like those who surpass them in any regard. The average man envies and hates those who are different.

Ludwig von Mises
The alcoholic and the drug addict harm only themselves by their behavior; the person who violates the rules of morality governing mans life in society harms not only himself, but everyone.

The alcoholic and the drug addict harm only themselves by their behavior; the person who violates the rules of morality governing mans life in society harms not only himself, but everyone.

Ludwig von Mises
All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out

Ludwig von Mises
Freedom is indivisible. As soon as one starts to restrict it, one enters upon a decline on which it is difficult to stop.

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
The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion.

The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion.

Ludwig von Mises
Nobody ever recommended a dictatorship aiming at ends other than those he himself approved. He who advocates dictatorship always advocates the unrestricted rule of his own will

Nobody ever recommended a dictatorship aiming at ends other than those he himself approved. He who advocates dictatorship always advocates the unrestricted rule of his own will

Ludwig von Mises
Repression by brute force is always a confession of the inability to make use of the better weapons of the intellect—better because they alone give promise of final success.

Repression by brute force is always a confession of the inability to make use of the better weapons of the intellect—better because they alone give promise of final success.

Ludwig von Mises
A society that chooses between capitalism and socialism does not choose between two social systems; it chooses between social cooperation and the disintegration of society.

A society that chooses between capitalism and socialism does not choose between two social systems; it chooses between social cooperation and the disintegration of society.

Ludwig von Mises
The market system is the basis of our civilization. Its only alternative is the Führer principle.

The market system is the basis of our civilization. Its only alternative is the Führer principle.

Ludwig von Mises
The average man is both better informed and less corruptible in the decisions he makes as a consumer than as a voter at political elections.

The average man is both better informed and less corruptible in the decisions he makes as a consumer than as a voter at political elections.

Ludwig von Mises
Against what is stupid, nonsensical, erroneous, and evil, [classical] liberalism fights with the weapons of the mind, and not with brute force and repression.

Against what is stupid, nonsensical, erroneous, and evil, [classical] liberalism fights with the weapons of the mind, and not with brute force and repression.

Ludwig von Mises
The issue is always the same: the government or the market. There is no third solution.

The issue is always the same: the government or the market. There is no third solution.

Ludwig von Mises
Every step which leads from capitalism toward planning is necessarily a step nearer to absolutism and dictatorship.

Every step which leads from capitalism toward planning is necessarily a step nearer to absolutism and dictatorship.

Ludwig von Mises
It is labor alone that is productive: it creates wealth and therewith lays the outward foundations for the inward flowering of man.

It is labor alone that is productive: it creates wealth and therewith lays the outward foundations for the inward flowering of man.

Ludwig von Mises
War prosperity is like the prosperity that an earthquake or a plague brings.

War prosperity is like the prosperity that an earthquake or a plague brings.

Ludwig von Mises
Every type of socialism is unworkable because economic calculation is impossible in a socialist community.

Every type of socialism is unworkable because economic calculation is impossible in a socialist community.

Ludwig von Mises
Every socialist is a disguised dictator.

Every socialist is a disguised dictator.

Ludwig von Mises
The elimination of profit, whatever methods may be resorted to for its execution, must transform society into a senseless jumble.

The elimination of profit, whatever methods may be resorted to for its execution, must transform society into a senseless jumble.

Ludwig von Mises
In a capitalist society one can hold on to one’s fortune only if one perpetually acquires it anew by investing it wisely.

In a capitalist society one can hold on to one’s fortune only if one perpetually acquires it anew by investing it wisely.

Ludwig von Mises
If one rejects laissez faire on account of mans fallibility and moral weakness, one must for the same reason also reject every kind of government action.

If one rejects laissez faire on account of mans fallibility and moral weakness, one must for the same reason also reject every kind of government action.

Ludwig von Mises
Credit expansion can bring about a temporary boom. But such a fictitious prosperity must end in a general depression of trade, a slump.

Credit expansion can bring about a temporary boom. But such a fictitious prosperity must end in a general depression of trade, a slump.

Ludwig von Mises
Romanticism is man's revolt against reason, as well as against the condition under which nature has compelled him to live.

Romanticism is man's revolt against reason, as well as against the condition under which nature has compelled him to live.

Ludwig von Mises
In a battle between force and an idea, the latter always prevails.

In a battle between force and an idea, the latter always prevails.

Ludwig von Mises