Saturday, December 12, 2009

More from Milton

Here is a quote I think really like from Milton Friedman:

"The essence of human freedom as of a free private market, is freedom of people to make their own decisions so long as they do not prevent anybody else from doing the same thing. That makes clear, I think, why free private markets are so closely related to human freedom. It is the only mechanism that permits a complex interrelated society to be organized from the bottom up rather than the top down. However, it also makes clear why free societies are so rare. Free societies restrain power. They make it very hard for bad people to do harm, but they also make it very hard for good people to do good. Implicitly or explicitly, most opponents of freedom believe that they know what is good for other people better than other people know for themselves, and they want the power to make people do what is really good for them."

One of these days I am going to say something profound like that. Until then, I am afraid you will just get quotes.

3 comments:

P&M Inc. said...

I think you just did say something profound. I'll send you my stake conference address - then you won't feel so bad about not having said anything earth shattering. I'm still waiting for my day.

Nessie said...

Dave,

Thanks for sharing the video and quote. You always share great insights.

It seems often people don't really appreciate what others have to say or the talents of others until the person is gone. You often say wonderful things. Hopefully people will appreciate sooner rather than later.

Oliver said...

David I think you say deep things.