37 Quotes by Vilfredo Pareto

Men follow their sentiments and their self-interest, but it pleases them to imagine that they follow reason. And so they look for, and always find, some theory which, a posteriori, makes their actions appear to be logical. If that theory could be demolished scientifically, the only result would be that another theory would be substituted for the first one, and for the same purpose.

If you’re Noah, and your ark is about to sink, look for the elephants first, because you can throw over a bunch of cats, dogs, squirrels, and everything else that is just a small animal and your ark will keep sinking. But if you can find one elephant to get overboard, you’re in much better shape.

All governments use force and all assert that they are founded on reason. In fact, whether universal suffrage prevails or not, it is always an oligarchy that governs, finding ways to give to’the will of the people’the expression which the few desire.

Usually, so far as improvement in the people’s economic conditions is concerned, humanitarians simply play the role of the busybody.

Whoever becomes a lamb will find a wolf to eat him.

The party that called itself liberal aimed at respecting the liberty to dispose of one’s own goods.

For many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.

The world has always belonged to the stronger, and will belong to them for many years to come. Men only respect those who make themselves respected. Whoever becomes a lamb will find a wolf to eat him.

History is a graveyard of aristocracies.