Business Quote by Milton Friedman
“Business corporations in general are not defenders of free enterprise. 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.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture on trade policy, 1975
Businesses claim to protect free enterprise but often seek protections that limit competition, revealing self‑interest.
In simple terms: Companies say they support freedom but want special favors.
Key Takeaway
Question motives behind corporate lobbying.
Themes
economics
politics
ethics
Mood
critical
analytical
inquisitive
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- policy making
- trade negotiations
- public discourse
Key Concepts
free market
protectionism
corporate power
Questions to Reflect On
- Do all corporations act similarly?
- When can protection be justified?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overgeneralize all firms.
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