--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While big-business leaders and firms can…" description: "\"While big-business leaders and firms can be highly productive, servants of consumers in a free market economy, they are also all too often, seekers aft..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/murray-rothbard-1563_big-business_while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can_1957329.jpg" --- # While big-business leaders and firms can be highly… ![“While big-business leaders and firms can be highly productive, servants of consumers in a free market economy, they are also all too often, seekers after subsidies, contracts, privileges, or cartels furnished by big government. Often, business lobbyists and leaders are the sparkplugs for the…” quote by Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/murray-rothbard-1563_big-business_while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can_1957329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/murray-rothbard-1563_big-business_while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can_1957329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/murray-rothbard-1563_big-business_while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can_1957329.jpg) > “While big-business leaders and firms can be highly productive, servants of consumers in a free market economy, they are also all too often, seekers after subsidies, contracts, privileges, or cartels furnished by big government. Often, business lobbyists and leaders are the sparkplugs for the statist, interventionist system.” [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Businesses often seek government aid, creating dependency that undermines free‑market benefits. **In simple terms:** Companies chase subsidies, hurting competition. Key Takeaway Advocate for minimal government interference. Themes economics politics freedom Mood critical analytical Type economic political When to use this quote - policy making - business strategy - public procurement Key Concepts government intervention corporate lobbying Questions to Reflect On - Should all subsidies be eliminated? - When is government support justified? A Different Perspective Some subsidies can stimulate innovation or address market failures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-business/) [Big government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-government/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-leader/) [Business leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-leaders/) [Business Lobbyists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-lobbyists-3211179/) [Cartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartels/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Contracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracts/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Firm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firm/) [Free market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-market/) [Free Market Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-market-economy/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Firms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-firms-3211180/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Lobbyists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyists/) [Lobbyists Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyists-leaders-3211181/) [Market economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market-economy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Seekers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seekers/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Subsidies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidies/) ## Related quotes > [“Liberal” in the nineteenth-century United States and Europe designated people who in many, but not all, respects would be called conservatives in the twenty-first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-white/liberal-in-the-nineteenth-century-united-states-and-europe-designated/) [Richard White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-white/) > [In a true free market economy, you can't make yourself rich without enriching your community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/in-a-true-free-market-economy-you-can-t-make-yourself-rich-without/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [We know that in our free market economy some will prosper more than others. What we don't accept is the idea that some folks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/we-know-that-in-our-free-market-economy-some-will-prosper-more-than/) [Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/) > [“The great hatred of capitalism in the hearts of the oppressed, ancient and modern, I think, stems not merely from the ensuing vast inequality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-davis-hanson/the-great-hatred-of-capitalism-in-the-hearts-of-the-oppressed-ancient/) [Victor Davis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-davis-hanson/) > [“Nothing is more unpopular today than the free market economy, i.e., capitalism. Everything that is considered unsatisfactory in present-day conditions is charged to capitalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/nothing-is-more-unpopular-today-than-the-free-market-economy-i-e/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The free market economy is supposed to be the only path leading to the happiness of humanity by promoting wealth and prosperity, power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/the-free-market-economy-is-supposed-to-be-the-only-path-leading-to/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [I support freedom and I support a free market economy, but it should be a socially oriented market economy. I support globalization, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/i-support-freedom-and-i-support-a-free-market-economy-but-it-should/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [“With the invention of the city and its powerful combination of economies of scale coupled to innovation and wealth creation came the great divisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-west/with-the-invention-of-the-city-and-its-powerful-combination-of/) [Geoffrey West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-west/) > [Since achieving their independence in 1992, the people of Croatia have built a democratic society based on the rule of law, respect for human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-gallegly/since-achieving-their-independence-in-1992-the-people-of-croatia-have/) [Elton Gallegly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-gallegly/) > [The trouble with a free market economy is that it requires so many policemen to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-trouble-with-a-free-market-economy-is-that-it-requires-so-many/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [In the past six months, our federal government has devised a dozen strategies to save America's financial markets. Each plan has been more costly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-enzi/in-the-past-six-months-our-federal-government-has-devised-a-dozen/) [Michael Enzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-enzi/) > [In the 19th century, a lot of people were against outlawing child labour, because to do so would be against the very foundations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/in-the-19th-century-a-lot-of-people-were-against-outlawing-child/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I find it quite useful to think of a free-market economy - or partly free market economy - as sort of the equivalent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-find-it-quite-useful-to-think-of-a-free-market-economy-or-partly/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Everyone should be investing in our free market economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baiju-bhatt/everyone-should-be-investing-in-our-free-market-economy/) [Baiju Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baiju-bhatt/) > [While many parents feel understandably aggrieved at the higher cost of hotels and flights the moment school holidays start, I'm afraid that's just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-many-parents-feel-understandably-aggrieved-at-the-higher-cost/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) ## More by Murray Rothbard > [I think one of the most important directions to be pursued in the 'sciences of human action' is to develop a natural-law ethics based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-directions-to-be-pursued-in-the/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Since the State necessarily lives by the compulsory confiscation of private capital, and since its expansion necessarily involves ever-greater incursions on private individuals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/since-the-state-necessarily-lives-by-the-compulsory-confiscation-of/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Falling prices through increased production is a wonderful long-run tendency of untrammeled capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/falling-prices-through-increased-production-is-a-wonderful-long-run/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Cops must be unleashed, and allowed to administer instant punishment, subject of course to liability when they are in error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/cops-must-be-unleashed-and-allowed-to-administer-instant-punishment/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Subjectivism is not an absolute principle; it is a necessary but not sufficient condition for sound methodology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/subjectivism-is-not-an-absolute-principle-it-is-a-necessary-but-not/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [We must therefore turn to history for enlightenment; here we find that none of the proclaimed anarchist groups correspond to the libertarian position, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/we-must-therefore-turn-to-history-for-enlightenment-here-we-find-that/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [John Stuart was the quintessence of soft rather than hardcore, a woolly minded man of mush in striking contrast to his steel-edged father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/john-stuart-was-the-quintessence-of-soft-rather-than-hardcore-a/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [What do intellectuals and opinion makers get from big government? An increasing number of cushy jobs in the bureaucracy, or in the government-subsidized sector,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/what-do-intellectuals-and-opinion-makers-get-from-big-government-an/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [The major reason for Keynes's rejection of communism was simply that he could scarcely identify with the grubby proletariat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/the-major-reason-for-keynes-s-rejection-of-communism-was-simply-that/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Liberty and morality had to win their way slowly over many centuries, until finally expanding liberty made possible the great technological advance of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/liberty-and-morality-had-to-win-their-way-slowly-over-many-centuries/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [The State has invariably shown a striking talent for the expansion of its powers beyond any limits that might be imposed upon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/the-state-has-invariably-shown-a-striking-talent-for-the-expansion-of/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Absolute freedom need not be lost as the price we must pay for the advent of civilization; men are born free, and need never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/absolute-freedom-need-not-be-lost-as-the-price-we-must-pay-for-the/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Absolute freedom need not be lost as the price we must pay for the advent of civilization. Man may achieve liberty and abundance, freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/absolute-freedom-need-not-be-lost-as-the-price-we-must-pay-for-the-2/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [The underconsumptionist of 1819 believed that consumption would be stimulated by tariffs, while the underconsumptionist of a later day urged monetary expansion as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/the-underconsumptionist-of-1819-believed-that-consumption-would-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) [Explore all 227 Murray Rothbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) ## More Big business quotes > [In politics we face the choice between warmongering, nation-state loving, big-business agents on one hand; and risk-blind, top-down, epistemic arrogant big servants of large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/in-politics-we-face-the-choice-between-warmongering-nation-state/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [The American influence is not so aggressive anymore. The American big business influence in Latin America is not as strong, so people can vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/costa-gavras/the-american-influence-is-not-so-aggressive-anymore-the-american-big/) [Costa-Gavras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/costa-gavras/) > [Prosperity may be found in small as in big business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-l-peretz/prosperity-may-be-found-in-small-as-in-big-business/) [I. L. Peretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-l-peretz/) > [Big Business and State Socialism are very much alike, especially Big Business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/big-business-and-state-socialism-are-very-much-alike-especially-big/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sports has become such a big business that the line between journalism and being a broadcast partner for all intents and purposes has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-zirin/sports-has-become-such-a-big-business-that-the-line-between/) [Dave Zirin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-zirin/) > [The simple opposition between the people and big business has disappeared because the people themselves have become so deeply involved in big business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-simple-opposition-between-the-people-and-big-business-has/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A big business man was telling Henry Ford about a coach driver of super-expertness with his whip. The driver was telling how he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/a-big-business-man-was-telling-henry-ford-about-a-coach-driver-of/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Socialism is a society where the resources are used democratically to provide a better life for all, based on ending the dictatorship of big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/socialism-is-a-society-where-the-resources-are-used-democratically-to/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [Maybe we should be directing our anger elsewhere - like toward Wall Street. Why is it we never think of Big Business when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/maybe-we-should-be-directing-our-anger-elsewhere-like-toward-wall/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [As long as there are big corporations, there will be big unions. The economic power of big business will be matched by the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chase-smith/as-long-as-there-are-big-corporations-there-will-be-big-unions-the/) [Margaret Chase Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chase-smith/) > [I have found, whether you have a tiny business or a big business, if you don't jump on something right away, it's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-have-found-whether-you-have-a-tiny-business-or-a-big-business-if/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [Sickness is BIG Business,and we are left in the Middle of the Sea with NO Life Preserver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joeybaggs/sickness-is-big-business-and-we-are-left-in-the-middle-of-the-sea/) [Joeybaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joeybaggs/) > [No government is here forever. And there are other forces - the most potent force in our society, in fact, big business - doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/no-government-is-here-forever-and-there-are-other-forces-the-most/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [If you're going to be thinking anyway, think big!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-re-going-to-be-thinking-anyway-think-big/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 356 Big business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While big-business leaders and firms can be highly productive, servants of consumers in a free market economy, they are also all too often, seekers after subsidies, contracts, privileges, or cartels furnished by big government. Often, business lobbyists and leaders are the sparkplugs for the statist, interventionist system.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Murray Rothbard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can-be-highly-productive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can-be-highly-productive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/murray-rothbard-1563_big-business_while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can_1957329.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/murray-rothbard-1563_big-business_while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can_1957329.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/murray-rothbard-1563_big-business_while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can_1957329.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While big-business leaders and firms can be highly productive, servants of consumers in a free market…” — Murray Rothbard", "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": "Murray Rothbard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "While big-business leaders and firms can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can-be-highly-productive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/while-big-business-leaders-and-firms-can-be-highly-productive/#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 } } ] } ```