The laissez-faire argument relies on the same tacit appeal to perfection as does communism.

Although I have made a fortune in the financial markets, I now fear that the untrammeled intensification of laissez-faire capitalism and the spread of market values into all areas of life is endangering our open and democratic society. The main enemy of the open society, I believe, is no longer the communist but the capitalist threat.

In 2012, the far-right Golden Dawn won 21 seats in Greece's parliamentary election, the right-wing Jobbik gained ground in my native Hungary, and the National Front's Marine Le Pen received strong backing in France's presidential election. Growing support for similar forces across Europe points to an inescapable conclusion: the continent's prolonged financial crisis is creating a crisis of values that is now threatening the European Union itself.

To be successful, you need leisure. You need time hanging heavily on your hands.

If the bubbles contain a misconception, as they always do, then it can't be maintained forever.

Most of the poverty and misery in the world is due to bad government, lack of democracy, weak states, internal strife, and so on.

I chose America as my home because I value freedom and democracy, civil liberties and an open society.