Capitalism Quote by Murray N. Rothbard
““It’s true: greed has had a very bad press. I frankly don’t see anything wrong with greed. I think that the people who are always attacking greed would be more consistent with their position if they refused their next salary increase. I don’t see even the most Left-Wing scholar in this country scornfully burning his salary check. In other words, "greed" simply means that you are trying to relieve the nature given scarcity that man was born with. Greed will continue until the Garden of Eden arrives, when everything is superabundant, and we don’t have to worry about economics at all. We haven’t of course reached that point yet; we haven’t reached the point where everybody is burning his salary increases, or salary checks in general.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Economic Philosophy, 1979
Greed is a natural response to scarcity, not inherently immoral; it drives effort and innovation until abundance eliminates scarcity.
In simple terms: Greed reflects scarcity and motivates productivity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize scarcity as a driver of ambition.
Themes
economics
human nature
motivation
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- personal finance
- public policy
- entrepreneurship
Key Concepts
scarcity
incentives
self‑interest
Questions to Reflect On
- How does scarcity shape our values?
- When might greed become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Greed can lead to exploitation if unchecked.
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