Bases Quote by Milton Friedman
“I want people to take thought about their condition and to recognize that the maintainence of a free society is a very difficult and complicated thing and it requires a self-denying ordinance of the most extreme kind. It requires a willingness to put up with temporary evils on the basis of the subtle and sophisticated understanding that if you step in to do something about them you not only may make them worse, you will spread your tenticles and get bad results elsewhere.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 1970, Economic Freedom Forum
Free societies require self‑denial and tolerance of temporary evils; intervention can worsen outcomes.
In simple terms: Freedom demands sacrifice and tolerance.
Key Takeaway
Accept temporary evils for greater freedom.
Themes
freedom
self‑denial
politics
Mood
cautious
philosophical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- government decisions
- civil rights
- international aid
- legal reform
Key Concepts
ethical trade‑offs
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is intervention justified?
- How to balance liberty and safety?
A Different Perspective
Too much tolerance may enable abuse.
