But now, as throughout history, financial capacity and political perspicacity are inversely correlated.

There's no question that in my lifetime, the contrast between what I called private affluence and public squalor has become very much greater.

People are the common denominator of progress; no improvement is possible with unimproved people.

Monetary policy suffers from the unfortunate absence of any occult effect. It has long been clear that economic management...would be greatly facilitated if resort could occasionally be had to witchcraft.

Humor is richly rewarding to the person who employs it. It has some value in gaining and holding attention, but it has no persuasive value at all.

If we are concerned about our great appetite for materials, it is plausible to decrease waste, to make better use of stocks available, and to develop substitutes. But what about the appetite itself? The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly in industrialised countries

It is possible that people need to believe they are unmanaged if they are to be managed effectively.