Capitalism Quote by Ludwig von Mises
“The early industrialists were for the most part men who had their origin in the same social strata from which their workers came. They lived very modestly, spent only a fraction of their earnings for their households and put the rest back into the business.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Human Action, Ludwig von Mises, 1949
Early industrialists were modest, self‑reinvesting, and shared social origins with their workers.
In simple terms: Industrialists lived modestly and reinvested earnings.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the value of modest living and reinvestment.
Themes
economics
class
industrial history
modesty
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
historical
economic
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- personal finance
- historical analysis
- social equality
Key Concepts
social mobility
capital reinvestment
Questions to Reflect On
- How would modest living affect today's entrepreneurs?
- Can reinvestment replace profit‑driven motives?
A Different Perspective
Modern capitalism often deviates from this modest model.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
