--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Economists have provided capitalists with…" description: "\"Economists have provided capitalists with a comforting concept called the \"free market.\" It does not describe any part of reality, at any place or time..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/edward-s-herman-42038_capitalist_economists-have-provided-capitalists-wit_859942.jpg" --- # Economists have provided capitalists with a comforting… ![“Economists have provided capitalists with a comforting concept called the "free market." It does not describe any part of reality, at any place or time. It's a mantra conveniently invoked when it is proposed that government do something the faithful don't like, and just as conveniently ignored…” quote by Edward S. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/edward-s-herman-42038_capitalist_economists-have-provided-capitalists-wit_859942.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/edward-s-herman-42038_capitalist_economists-have-provided-capitalists-wit_859942.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/edward-s-herman-42038_capitalist_economists-have-provided-capitalists-wit_859942.jpg) > “Economists have provided capitalists with a comforting concept called the "free market." It does not describe any part of reality, at any place or time. It's a mantra conveniently invoked when it is proposed that government do something the faithful don't like, and just as conveniently ignored whenever they want government to do something for them.” [Edward S. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-s-herman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “free market” is used as a rhetorical device to justify policies, but it does not accurately reflect economic reality. **In simple terms:** “Free market” is a convenient slogan, not a factual description. Key Takeaway Question the validity of market‑based arguments. Themes economics politics language ideology Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public policy debates - media analysis - academic discourse - legislative hearings Key Concepts market myth political rhetoric economic reality policy critique Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape policy perception? - What evidence challenges the “free market” claim? A Different Perspective Rhetorical framing can obscure complex truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Capitalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalist/) [Capitalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalists/) [Capitalists Comforting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalists-comforting-842285/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Comforting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economist/) [Economists Provided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economists-provided-842286/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Free market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-market/) [Globalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globalization/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignored/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Mantras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mantras/) [Provided Capitalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provided-capitalists-842284/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Priests, kings, statesmen, soldiers, bankers and public functionaries of all sorts; policemen, jailers and hangmen; capitalists, usurers, businessmen and property-owners; lawyers, economists and politicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/priests-kings-statesmen-soldiers-bankers-and-public-functionaries-of/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [The terror in which English capitalists now stand of organized proletarian resistance gives to the naturally protected craft organizations the power to receive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-terror-in-which-english-capitalists-now-stand-of-organized/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [What made women's labour particularly attractive to the capitalists was not only its lower price but also the greater submissiveness of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-zetkin/what-made-women-s-labour-particularly-attractive-to-the-capitalists/) [Clara Zetkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-zetkin/) > [Without getting into brothels, there are ethical capitalists the problem is that there aren't enough of them. 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