"Is it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest?"
- Milton Friedman
About this Quote
The quote is questioning the perception that political self-interest (i.e. pursuing policies that are in the interest of one's political career or celebration) is ethically exceptional to financial self-interest (i.e. pursuing policies that are in the interest of one's individual or service monetary gain). The ramification is that both kinds of self-interest are genuine and need to not be inherently judged as noble or ignoble.
This quote is written / told by Milton Friedman between July 31, 1912 and November 16, 2006. He/she was a famous Economist from USA.
The author also have 34 other quotes.
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"The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists"
"I believe that history has shape, order, and meaning; that exceptional men, as much as economic forces, produce change; and that passe abstractions like beauty, nobility, and greatness have a shifting but continuing validity"
"Now is not the time to compromise on the economy. Instead, we should be doing everything in our power to support long-term economic growth. Permanent repeal of the death tax will mean more high-quality, high-paying jobs for Americans"
"Hand in hand with nationalist economic isolationism, militarism struggles to maintain the sovereign state against the forward march of internationalism"
"Racism is a way to gain economic advantage at the expense of others. Slavery and plantations may be gone, but racism still allows us to regard those who may keep us from financial gain as less than equals"