--- title: "9 Special Quotes By Milton Friedman" description: "9 Special quotes by Milton Friedman. Plus more from Milton Friedman and more Special sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/milton-friedman-616_expenses_trade-licensing-almost-inevitably-become_1670485.png" --- > [ \[Trade licensing\] almost inevitably becomes a tool in the hands of a special producer group to maintain a monopoly position at the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/trade-licensing-almost-inevitably-becomes-a-tool-in-the-hands-of-a/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/milton-friedman-616_expenses_trade-licensing-almost-inevitably-become_1670485.png) > [Complete free trade is not politically feasible. Why? Because it's only in the general interest and in no one's special interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/complete-free-trade-is-not-politically-feasible-why-because-it-s-only/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/milton-friedman-616_china_complete-free-trade-is-not-politically-f_922818.png) > [I would say that in this world, the greatest source of inequality has been special privileges granted by government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-would-say-that-in-this-world-the-greatest-source-of-inequality-has/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/milton-friedman-616_government_i-would-say-that-in-this-world-the-great_187181.png) > [There is still a tendency to regard any existing government intervention as desirable, to attribute all evils to the market, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/there-is-still-a-tendency-to-regard-any-existing-government/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/milton-friedman-616_able_there-is-still-a-tendency-to-regard-any_2983289.jpg) > [Business corporations in general are not defenders of free enterprise. On the contrary, they are one of the chief sources of danger…Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/business-corporations-in-general-are-not-defenders-of-free-enterprise/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/milton-friedman-616_business_business-corporations-in-general-are-not_3184469.jpg) > [. . I think the Adam Smith role was played in this cycle i.e. the late twentieth century collapse of socialism in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-the-adam-smith-role-was-played-in-this-cycle-i-e-the-late/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/milton-friedman-616_adam_i-think-the-adam-smith-role-was-played-i_3129217.jpg) > [If we have system in which government is in a position to give large favor - it's human nature to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/if-we-have-system-in-which-government-is-in-a-position-to-give-large/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/milton-friedman-616_business_if-we-have-system-in-which-government-is_1992548.jpg) > [Every businessman is in favor of freedom for everybody else, but when it comes to himself that's a different question. He's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/every-businessman-is-in-favor-of-freedom-for-everybody-else-but-when/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/milton-friedman-616_businessman_every-businessman-is-in-favor-of-freedom_2535048.png) > [Government has three primary functions. It should provide for military defense of the nation. It should enforce contracts between individuals. It should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/government-has-three-primary-functions-it-should-provide-for-military/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/milton-friedman-616_active_government-has-three-primary-functions-i_474781.png) ## Other authors on Special ## 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/special/milton-friedman/#itemlist", "name": "9 Special Quotes By Milton Friedman", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Trade licensing] almost inevitably becomes a tool in the hands of a special producer group to maintain a monopoly position at the expense of the rest of the public. 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On the contrary, they are one of the chief sources of danger…Every businessman is in favor of freedom for everybody else, but when it comes to himself that's a different question. We have to have that tariff to protect us against competition from abroad. We have to have that special provision in the tax code. We have to have that subsidy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/business-corporations-in-general-are-not-defenders-of-free-enterprise/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/milton-friedman-616_business_business-corporations-in-general-are-not_3184469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/milton-friedman-616_business_business-corporations-in-general-are-not_3184469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/milton-friedman-616_business_business-corporations-in-general-are-not_3184469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Business corporations in general are not defenders of free enterprise. 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I think the Adam Smith role was played in this cycle i.e. the late twentieth century collapse of socialism in which the idea of free-markets succeeded first, and then special events catalyzed a complete change of socio-political policy in countries around the world by Friedrich Hayek's The Road to Serfdom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-the-adam-smith-role-was-played-in-this-cycle-i-e-the-late/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/milton-friedman-616_adam_i-think-the-adam-smith-role-was-played-i_3129217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/milton-friedman-616_adam_i-think-the-adam-smith-role-was-played-i_3129217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/milton-friedman-616_adam_i-think-the-adam-smith-role-was-played-i_3129217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“. . 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The only way to prevent that is to force them to engage in competition one with the other.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/if-we-have-system-in-which-government-is-in-a-position-to-give-large/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/milton-friedman-616_business_if-we-have-system-in-which-government-is_1992548.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/milton-friedman-616_business_if-we-have-system-in-which-government-is_1992548.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/milton-friedman-616_business_if-we-have-system-in-which-government-is_1992548.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we have system in which government is in a position to give large favor - it's human nature to try to get…” — Milton Friedman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every businessman is in favor of freedom for everybody else, but when it comes to himself that's a different question. He's always the special case. He ought to get special privileges from the government, a tariff, this, that and the other thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/every-businessman-is-in-favor-of-freedom-for-everybody-else-but-when/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/milton-friedman-616_businessman_every-businessman-is-in-favor-of-freedom_2535048.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/milton-friedman-616_businessman_every-businessman-is-in-favor-of-freedom_2535048.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/milton-friedman-616_businessman_every-businessman-is-in-favor-of-freedom_2535048.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every businessman is in favor of freedom for everybody else, but when it comes to himself that's a different…” — Milton Friedman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Government has three primary functions. It should provide for military defense of the nation. It should enforce contracts between individuals. It should protect citizens from crimes against themselves or their property. When government-- in pursuit of good intentions tries to rearrange the economy, legislate morality, or help special interests, the cost come in inefficiency, lack of motivation, and loss of freedom. Government should be a referee, not an active player.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/government-has-three-primary-functions-it-should-provide-for-military/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/milton-friedman-616_active_government-has-three-primary-functions-i_474781.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/milton-friedman-616_active_government-has-three-primary-functions-i_474781.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/milton-friedman-616_active_government-has-three-primary-functions-i_474781.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Government has three primary functions. It should provide for military defense of the nation. 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