Had the Bible been in clear straightforward language, had the ambiguities and contradictions been edited out, and had the language been constantly modernised to accord with contemporary taste it would almost certainly have been, or become, a work of lesser influence.

Only foolish people are completely secure.

Wisdom... is often an abstraction associated not with fact or reality but with the man who asserts it and the manner of its assertion.

Things that come from the private sector are in abundant supply; things that depend on the public sector are widely a problem. We're a world, as I said in The Affluent Society, of filthy streets and clean houses, poor schools and expensive television.

Inflation does not lubricate trade but by rescuing traders from their errors of optimism or stupidity.

Unemployment is rarely considered desirable except by those who have not experienced it.

If a man didn't make sense, the Scotch felt it was misplaced politeness to try to keep him from knowing it. Better that he be aware of his reputation, for this would encourage reticence which goes well with stupidity.