Cafeteria Quote by Paul Samuelson
“For better or worse, US Keynesianism was so far ahead of where it started. I am a cafeteria Keynesian. You know what a cafeteria catholic is?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Economic lecture or interview, date unknown
Keynesian economics is portrayed as adaptable, likened to a “cafeteria” where one picks ideas selectively.
In simple terms: Keynesianism is flexible, allowing selective adoption of its concepts.
Use economic tools pragmatically.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy design
- academic debate
- public discourse
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of cherry‑picking economic theories?
- How can flexibility be balanced with consistency?
Critics may argue that selective adoption dilutes core principles.