--- title: "7 Alternatives Quotes By Milton Friedman" description: "7 Alternatives quotes by Milton Friedman. Plus more from Milton Friedman and more Alternatives sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-excuse-for-the-destruction-of-libert_1206266.png" --- > [The excuse for the destruction of liberty is always the plea of necessary ' that there is no alternative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-excuse-for-the-destruction-of-liberty-is-always-the-plea-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-excuse-for-the-destruction-of-libert_1206266.png) > [Government power must be dispersed. If government is to exercise power, better in the county than in the state, better in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/government-power-must-be-dispersed-if-government-is-to-exercise-power/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_government-power-must-be-dispersed-if-go_1313545.jpg) > [The great danger to the consumer is the monopoly -whether private or governmental. His most effective protection is free competition at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-great-danger-to-the-consumer-is-the-monopoly-whether-private-or/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-great-danger-to-the-consumer-is-the_1554328.jpg) > [. . . it is worth discussing radical changes, not in the expectation that they will be adopted promptly but for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-worth-discussing-radical-changes-not-in-the-expectation-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/milton-friedman-616_adopted_it-is-worth-discussing-radical-changes-n_2023393.jpg) > [The power to determine the quantity of money... is too important, too pervasive, to be exercised by a few people, however public-spirited,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-money-is-too-important-too/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-m_2512205.jpg) > [The power to determine the quantity of money... is too important, too pervasive, to be exercised by a few people, however public-spirited,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-money-is-too-important-too-2/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-m_2873344.png) > [Only a crisis - actual or perceived - produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/only-a-crisis-actual-or-perceived-produces-real-change-when-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/milton-friedman-616_action_only-a-crisis-actual-or-perceived-produc_2993874.jpg) ## Other authors on Alternatives ## More by Milton Friedman > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [To really understand something you've got to reduce it to its principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/to-really-understand-something-you-ve-got-to-reduce-it-to-its/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The people in one district can choose not to reelect their member of Congress, but that will not change the composition of the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-people-in-one-district-can-choose-not-to-reelect-their-member-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The government doesn't have any money. The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/well-first-of-all-tell-me-is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I think almost every economist would agree that government gets itself in trouble when it tries to interfere with voluntary behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-almost-every-economist-would-agree-that-government-gets/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is most attractive about the US to people and countries with wealth is that it can provide security, insurance really, against political instability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-most-attractive-about-the-us-to-people-and-countries-with/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Hong Kong is the bellwether. If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/milton-friedman/#itemlist", "name": "7 Alternatives Quotes By Milton Friedman", "numberOfItems": 7, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The excuse for the destruction of liberty is always the plea of necessary ' that there is no alternative", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-excuse-for-the-destruction-of-liberty-is-always-the-plea-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-excuse-for-the-destruction-of-libert_1206266.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-excuse-for-the-destruction-of-libert_1206266.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-excuse-for-the-destruction-of-libert_1206266.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The excuse for the destruction of liberty is always the plea of necessary ' that there is no alternative” — Milton Friedman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Government power must be dispersed. If government is to exercise power, better in the county than in the state, better in the state than in Washington. If I do not like what my local community does, be it in sewage disposal, or zoning, or schools, I can move to another local community, and though few may take this step, the mere possibility acts as a check. If I do not like what Washington imposes, I have few alternatives in this world of jealous nations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/government-power-must-be-dispersed-if-government-is-to-exercise-power/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_government-power-must-be-dispersed-if-go_1313545.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_government-power-must-be-dispersed-if-go_1313545.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_government-power-must-be-dispersed-if-go_1313545.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Government power must be dispersed. 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Alternative sources of supply protect the consumer far more effectively than all the Ralph Naders of the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-great-danger-to-the-consumer-is-the-monopoly-whether-private-or/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-great-danger-to-the-consumer-is-the_1554328.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-great-danger-to-the-consumer-is-the_1554328.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-great-danger-to-the-consumer-is-the_1554328.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great danger to the consumer is the monopoly -whether private or governmental. 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It is so that if a crisis requiring or facilitating radical change does arise, alternatives will be available that have been carefully developed and fully explored.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-worth-discussing-radical-changes-not-in-the-expectation-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/milton-friedman-616_adopted_it-is-worth-discussing-radical-changes-n_2023393.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/milton-friedman-616_adopted_it-is-worth-discussing-radical-changes-n_2023393.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/milton-friedman-616_adopted_it-is-worth-discussing-radical-changes-n_2023393.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“. . . it is worth discussing radical changes, not in the expectation that they will be adopted promptly but…” — Milton Friedman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The power to determine the quantity of money... is too important, too pervasive, to be exercised by a few people, however public-spirited, if there is any feasible alternative. There is no need for such arbitrary power... Any system which gives so much power and so much discretion to a few men, [so] that mistakes - excusable or not - can have such far reaching effects, is a bad system. It is a bad system to believers in freedom just because it gives a few men such power without any effective check by the body politic - this is the key political argument against an independent central bank.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-money-is-too-important-too/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-m_2512205.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-m_2512205.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/milton-friedman-616_alternatives_the-power-to-determine-the-quantity-of-m_2512205.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The power to determine the quantity of money... is too important, too pervasive, to be exercised by a few…” — Milton Friedman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The power to determine the quantity of money... is too important, too pervasive, to be exercised by a few people, however public-spirited, if there is any feasible alternative. 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