Free market Quote by Henry Hazlitt
““Practically all government attempts to redistribute wealth and income tend to smother productive incentives and lead toward general impoverishment. It is the proper sphere of government to create and enforce a framework of law that prohibits force and fraud. But it must refrain from specific economic interventions. Government's main economic function is to encourage and preserve a free market. When Alexander the Great visited the philosopher Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for him, Diogenes is said to have replied: "Yes, stand a little less between me and the sun." It is what every citizen is entitled to ask of his government.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Economics in One Lesson, Henry Hazlitt, 1946
Government should limit itself to protecting property rights and enforcing contracts, avoiding direct economic control that stifles productivity.
In simple terms: Government’s role is law, not wealth redistribution.
Key Takeaway
Limit government to law and order.
Themes
freedom
property rights
government scope
economic policy
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- tax policy debates
- business regulation
- entrepreneurial ventures
- social welfare design
Key Concepts
libertarianism
public economics
political philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What economic functions truly require government oversight?
- How can societies balance freedom with social safety nets?
A Different Perspective
Excessive deregulation can lead to market failures and inequality.
