Mises Search

That millions claim “the last word” on matters of political economy, and disagree as much as they do, suggests that no one has more than scratched the surface.

Wrote Alexis de Tocqueville, “Despotism may govern without faith, but Liberty cannot.” The millions of despots, now in the driver’s seat, are swayed not by faith but by that type of ignorance displayed by witch doctors or medicine men and their patients. They, who do not know how to run their own lives, do not know that they know not how to run

Most of us do not like to act in areas where we are confused. To do so might cause more harm than good. The question is: Is there some common fault which serves as the root of all these ills, a fault that can be defined and for which treatment can be prescribed? This tract is one man’s answer — in the

The mass of citizens who haven’t the slightest idea of what makes an economy fruitful or unfruitful, perform trillions of little things that result in an abundance of goods and services beneficial to millions of others whom they have no conscious intention of benefiting. If these benefactors are not guided by politico-economic understanding, what

Listening to the truth always has fortunate results. What does my listening reveal? That learning the truth or spreading wisdom—education—is now and forever an in-taking, never an out-bursting procedure. It may be possible for me to see your light; you cannot insinuate your enlightenment into me or anyone

Vision is the blessing of foresight, but it has no chance of realization without its companion blessing, insight . In the absence of these twin attainments—each within our reach—the people perish, that is, they vegetate rather than germinate, stagnate instead of growing in awareness, perception, consciousness. Vision, therefore—the power of

Civilization can mean nothing less than a society of civilized people. So how is a civilized person to be identified? A civilized person must recognize that man is at once a social and an individualistic being. Thus, he must not only be self-responsible but, at the same time, understand that he owes to others no infringements on their

Leonard E. Read discusses the importance of freedom as a foundation for finding the answers to the problems induced by central planning and “master minding”. He suggests: “Freedom has come by accident, the result of desperation rather than a rational prognosis of better things to come”. Read also covers the influence of ideas and the human need

Libertarians may seem few and far between today, but they are not nearly as isolated now as they were when Leonard Read (1898–1983) was working to spread the freedom philosophy. Yet, although Read saw socialism spreading all around, he knew it was a “surface phenomenon,” and that under the surface, the liberty movement was growing. This gave him

Who are we as individuals? How does a possible Creator or Source fit into the subject of human liberty? Leonard E. Read delves into these topics that have been pondered about throughout the centuries. Together with quotes from timeless authors, Read pieces together what we have logically ascertained based on human experience and past wisdom