10 Milton Friedman Quotes That Will Make Liberal Heads Explode

2. “The world runs on individuals pursuing their self interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn’t construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn’t revolutionize the automobile industry that way.”

Friedman made this quote in an interview with Phil Donahue in 1979. Liberals love to decry “greed” and “selfishness” as reasons why the government must get involved in what should otherwise be private affairs. However, as Friedman points out, while alluding to Adam Smith‘s “invisible hand,” personal initiative is what drives others to do good for society, sometimes unintentionally. Even the most selfish and loathsome individual must please others if they wish to get ahead.

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