39 Quotes by Gunnar Myrdal

America has had gifted conservative statesmen and national leaders. But with few exceptions, only the liberals have gone down in history as national heroes.

It is natural for the ordinary American when he sees something wrong to feel not only that there should be a law against it but, also that an organization should be formed to combat it.

All sudden and violent changes, whatever their causes or character, must tend to decrease the respect for status quo as a natural order of things.

So many social changes are as irreversible as the reaction when sodium is thrown into water.

Rent control has in certain Western countries constituted, maybe, the worst example of poor planning by Governments lacking courage and vision.

Generally speaking, the less privileged groups in democratic society, as they become aware of their interests and their political power, will be found to press for ever more state intervention in practically all fields.

Education has in America's whole history been the major hope for improving the individual and society.

Social taboos are shy like virtue; once lost, there is no remedy

People become less inhibited from wanting to change social and economic conditions in a radical fashion according to their own interests, and from being prepared to think of state intervention in ever wider spheres as possible and useful for this purpose.