458 Quotes by John Kenneth Galbraith

I think without a doubt, that what is called “financial genius” is merely a rising market.

I react pragmatically. Where the market works, I’m for that. Where the government is necessary, I’m for that. I’m deeply suspicious of somebody who says, ‘I’m in favor of privatization,’ or, ‘I’m deeply in favor of public ownership.’ I’m in favor of whatever works in the particular case.

I feel very angry when I think of brilliant, or even interesting, women whose minds are wasted on a home. Better have an affair. It isn’t permanent and you keep your job.

The process by which money is created is so simply that the mind is repelled. Where something so important is involved, a deeper mystery seems only decent.

In all modern depressions, recessions, or growth-correction, as variously they are called, we never miss the goods that are not produced. We miss only the opportunities for the labour – for the jobs – that are not provided.

A nuclear war does not defend a country and it does not defend a system. I’ve put it the same way many times; not even the most accomplished ideologue will be able to tell the difference between the ashes of capitalism and the ashes of communism.

One must always have in mind one simple fact – there is no literate population in the world that is poor, and there is no illiterate population that is anything but poor.

The second factor contributing to speculative euphoria and programmed collapse is the specious association of money and intelligence.

Foresight is an imperfect thing – all prevision in economics is imperfect.