A THREAD on insightful timeless ideas by Ludwig von Mises:
1/
Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities.
1/
Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities.
2/
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.
3/
Under capitalism, the common man enjoys amenities which in ages gone by were unknown and therefore inaccessible even to the richest people.
But, of course, these motorcars, television sets and refrigerators do not make a man happy...
Under capitalism, the common man enjoys amenities which in ages gone by were unknown and therefore inaccessible even to the richest people.
But, of course, these motorcars, television sets and refrigerators do not make a man happy...
...In the instant in which he acquires them, he may feel happier than he did before.
But as soon as some of his wishes are satisfied, new wishes spring up.
Such is human nature.
But as soon as some of his wishes are satisfied, new wishes spring up.
Such is human nature.
4/
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.
5/
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.
6/
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.
7/
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.
8/
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.
9/
There is not the slightest analogy between playing games and the conduct of business within a market society.
The card player wins money by outsmarting his antagonist.
The businessman makes money by supplying customers with goods they want to acquire.
There is not the slightest analogy between playing games and the conduct of business within a market society.
The card player wins money by outsmarting his antagonist.
The businessman makes money by supplying customers with goods they want to acquire.
10/
The desire for an increase of wealth can be satisfied through exchange, which is the only method possible in a capitalist economy, or by violence and petition as in a militarist society, where the strong acquire by force, the weak by petitioning.
The desire for an increase of wealth can be satisfied through exchange, which is the only method possible in a capitalist economy, or by violence and petition as in a militarist society, where the strong acquire by force, the weak by petitioning.
11/
Religious wars are the most terrible wars because they are waged without any prospect of conciliation.
Religious wars are the most terrible wars because they are waged without any prospect of conciliation.
12/
A free man must be able to endure it when his fellow men act and live otherwise than he considers proper.
He must free himself from the habit, just as soon as something does not please him, of calling for the police.
A free man must be able to endure it when his fellow men act and live otherwise than he considers proper.
He must free himself from the habit, just as soon as something does not please him, of calling for the police.
13/
Human thoughts about things, of which neither pure reasoning nor experience provides any knowledge, may differ so radically that no agreement can be reached.
Human thoughts about things, of which neither pure reasoning nor experience provides any knowledge, may differ so radically that no agreement can be reached.
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