--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no place for government to…" description: "\"There is no place for government to prohibit consumers from buying products the effect of which will be to harm themselves\" — Milton Friedman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/milton-friedman-616_buying_there-is-no-place-for-government-to-proh_2193297.png" --- # There is no place for government to prohibit consumers… ![“There is no place for government to prohibit consumers from buying products the effect of which will be to harm themselves” quote by Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/milton-friedman-616_buying_there-is-no-place-for-government-to-proh_2193297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/milton-friedman-616_buying_there-is-no-place-for-government-to-proh_2193297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/milton-friedman-616_buying_there-is-no-place-for-government-to-proh_2193297.png) > “There is no place for government to prohibit consumers from buying products the effect of which will be to harm themselves” [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government should not ban products that consumers choose even if harmful. **In simple terms:** No prohibition on self‑harmful purchases. Key Takeaway Respect personal choice despite risks. Themes freedom government limits consumer autonomy Mood analytical neutral Type economic philosophical When to use this quote - policy debate - consumer rights - health warnings - market regulation Key Concepts libertarianism ethical limits public health Questions to Reflect On - When should government intervene for safety? - How to balance freedom and protection? A Different Perspective May ignore externalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Buying Products](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying-products-3443023/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Consumers Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers-buying-3991100/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Prohibit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-prohibit-1034678/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prohibit Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prohibit-consumers-4786998/) ## Related quotes > [ \[T\]he only way to shrink the trade deficit is for the government to prohibit us from buying whatever we want. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/t-he-only-way-to-shrink-the-trade-deficit-is-for-the-government-to/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-brennan/if-there-is-a-bedrock-principle-underlying-the-first-amendment-it-is/) [William J. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-brennan/) > [To assign to everybody his proper place in society is the task of the consumers. Their buying and abstention from buying is instrumental in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/to-assign-to-everybody-his-proper-place-in-society-is-the-task-of-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Consumers may put off buying a car, but they don't put off buying a vacation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/consumers-may-put-off-buying-a-car-but-they-don-t-put-off-buying-a/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [But if people are buying the products, naturally they're gonna use them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/but-if-people-are-buying-the-products-naturally-they-re-gonna-use-them/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [A lot of our happiness is derived from experiences, not from buying products. People are twice as happy buying experiences as products. People are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruzwana-bashir/a-lot-of-our-happiness-is-derived-from-experiences-not-from-buying/) [Ruzwana Bashir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruzwana-bashir/) > [People who get to express their voice are paid by the people who make profit from it. So they're going to make you believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/people-who-get-to-express-their-voice-are-paid-by-the-people-who-make/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [The Government should create, issue, and circulate all the currency and credits needed to satisfy the spending power of the Government and the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-government-should-create-issue-and-circulate-all-the-currency-and/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [People do care where their food, or other goods, comes from, not merely if the price is right. And that means no business can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/people-do-care-where-their-food-or-other-goods-comes-from-not-merely/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Illegal killings of elephants are being linked to organized crime and the funding of armed militia groups. Many consumers in Asia do not realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-bingbing/illegal-killings-of-elephants-are-being-linked-to-organized-crime-and/) [Li Bingbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-bingbing/) > [The smartest thing legislatures can do is get rid of lotteries and get those dollars buying consumer goods and get the sales tax revenues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/the-smartest-thing-legislatures-can-do-is-get-rid-of-lotteries-and/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [The entire EU has labeling for GMOs, and is simply saying let's let consumers know what they're buying, let's let them choose. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shumlin/the-entire-eu-has-labeling-for-gmos-and-is-simply-saying-let-s-let/) [Peter Shumlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shumlin/) > [I'm not a consumer. I hate buying clothes. I don't have a mobile. I just don't need things. I don't like things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/i-m-not-a-consumer-i-hate-buying-clothes-i-don-t-have-a-mobile-i-just/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [If you tell lies about a product, you will be found out - either by the Government, which will prosecute you, or by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/if-you-tell-lies-about-a-product-you-will-be-found-out-either-by-the/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [With Zipcar, consumers avoid the upfront cost of buying a car, not to mention gas, insurance, and repairs. Plus, they reduce the number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-jurich/with-zipcar-consumers-avoid-the-upfront-cost-of-buying-a-car-not-to/) [Lynn Jurich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-jurich/) ## More by Milton Friedman > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [To really understand something you've got to reduce it to its principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/to-really-understand-something-you-ve-got-to-reduce-it-to-its/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The people in one district can choose not to reelect their member of Congress, but that will not change the composition of the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-people-in-one-district-can-choose-not-to-reelect-their-member-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The government doesn't have any money. The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/well-first-of-all-tell-me-is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I think almost every economist would agree that government gets itself in trouble when it tries to interfere with voluntary behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-almost-every-economist-would-agree-that-government-gets/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is most attractive about the US to people and countries with wealth is that it can provide security, insurance really, against political instability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-most-attractive-about-the-us-to-people-and-countries-with/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Hong Kong is the bellwether. If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Explore all 444 Milton Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## More Buying quotes > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/) [Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [I think buying a home is the best investment that any individual can make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-think-buying-a-home-is-the-best-investment-that-any-individual-can/) [John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/) > [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [Every kid looks forward to buying their first JanSport backpack for school - you know my kids did!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/every-kid-looks-forward-to-buying-their-first-jansport-backpack-for/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [What is the focus of the new image infrastructure? Attention. It's all designed for capturing, tracking, quantifying, manipulating, holding, buying, selling and controlling attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/what-is-the-focus-of-the-new-image-infrastructure-attention-it-s-all/) [Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/) > [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [The truth is, if I was maybe better or funnier or prettier, wouldn't I have starred in a movie? I can see it objectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/the-truth-is-if-i-was-maybe-better-or-funnier-or-prettier-wouldn-t-i/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) [Browse all 1,598 Buying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no place for government to prohibit consumers from buying products the effect of which will be to harm themselves", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/there-is-no-place-for-government-to-prohibit-consumers-from-buying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/there-is-no-place-for-government-to-prohibit-consumers-from-buying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/milton-friedman-616_buying_there-is-no-place-for-government-to-proh_2193297.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/milton-friedman-616_buying_there-is-no-place-for-government-to-proh_2193297.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/milton-friedman-616_buying_there-is-no-place-for-government-to-proh_2193297.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no place for government to prohibit consumers from buying products the effect of which will be to…” — Milton Friedman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Milton Friedman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is no place for government...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/there-is-no-place-for-government-to-prohibit-consumers-from-buying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/there-is-no-place-for-government-to-prohibit-consumers-from-buying/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```