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[ The Free Market and Its Enemy (1965)] Any individual who has become aware of the free market and its miraculous performances must realize that its opposite — socialism — is growing by leaps and bounds. This growth, at the moment, is not so much in formal takeover (nationalization of the modes of production) as in political control and the

[The substance of this essay, under the title “The Miracles by Which We Live,” was delivered as the Commencement Address, Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, Michigan, on June 11, 1965. It was first published in the book The Free Market and Its Enemies . All of Read’s books are now available for free download from Mises.org. An MP3 audio

Every person should be free to pursue his ambition to the full extent of his abilities, regardless of race or creed or family background. to associate with whom he pleases for any reason he pleases, even if someone else thinks it’s a stupid reason. to worship God in his own way, even if it isn’t “orthodox.” to choose his own trade and to apply for

[Chapter 2 of Accent on the Right ] During the discussion following one of my recent lectures, it occurred to me that the questions fell into a pattern, and that this pattern was the same — whether in Manila, or Boise, or wherever. Each question was based on something the inquirer had heard or read; no questions appeared to stem from a genuine

[Chapter 2 of Accent on the Right (1968)] As in most disagreements, the current politico-economic controversy revolves around what’s right. And contrary to what a socialist or a libertarian usually thinks of his opponents, each is as convinced of his righteousness as the other. A consciously malevolent person is seldom found. That this contest as

[ Anything That’s Peaceful (1964)]   The practice of committees, boards, or councils presuming to represent the views of vast constituencies occurs in educational and religious associations, in trade and commercial organizations — indeed, in any segment of society where there is the propensity to organize. While there are daily examples by the

[Transcript of a lecture recorded in 1965]   There would be no need to work for liberty were liberties not being lost. Most Americans are unaware of a decline in individual liberty, and the reason is obvious: the decline rarely takes the form of sudden personal deprivations but, instead, takes the form of unnoticed erosion, and thus we come, as do

[Eulogy for Ludwig von Mises (1881–1973)]   At a seminar in Honolulu last Saturday morning, a participant said, “I have read the works of Ludwig von Mises but, Leonard, what kind of a man was he personally?” I reported to the whole group that he was a gentle man, modest, humble, and kindly, and that I had never known him to push his thoughts onto

[ To Free or Freeze (1972)] The dictionary defines plagiarism: “to take and pass off as one’s own (the ideas, writings, etc. of another).” At first blush, the plagiarist appears to be a despicable cad — nothing less than a thief. But perhaps this is too hasty a judgment. What makes plagiarism a vice is knowingly to pass off as one’s own the ideas

[ On Freedom and Free Enterprise (1956)] One of the cornerstones of economic theory is the economic value we attach to commodities and services that possess a relation to our well-being. Economic value is the importance which a good possesses for us because it is useful and scarce. It is to the everlasting credit and fame of Carl Menger and other