Amount Quote by Ludwig von Mises
“The financial history of the last century shows a steady increase in the amount of public indebtedness. Nobody believes that the states will eternally drag the burden of these interest payments. It is obvious that sooner or later all these debts will be liquidated in some way or other, but certainly not by payment of interest and principal according to the terms of the contract.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Human Action, Ludwig von Mises, 1949
Public debt inevitably grows and cannot be sustained by regular interest payments; eventually it must be resolved by inflation, default, or restructuring.
In simple terms: Debt grows faster than payments can keep up.
Key Takeaway
Expect debt to be erased, not repaid.
Themes
economics
public finance
inflation
debt sustainability
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
economic
warning
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- investment planning
- policy making
- personal finance
- business strategy
Key Concepts
Monetary theory
government finance
cyclical crises
Questions to Reflect On
- How might sustainable growth change this outcome?
- What policies could prevent forced liquidation?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all debt will be resolved, ignoring possible reforms or growth that can service debt.
![“Jew storekeepers have already learned the advantage to be gained from this [unlimited credit]: they lead on the farmer into irretrievable indebtedness, and keep him ever after as their bondslave hopelessly grinding in the mill.” quote by Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f55/robert-louis-stevenson-289_advantage_jew-storekeepers-have-already-learned-th_1497803.jpg)
