It is investment, i.e. the increased production of material wealth in the shape of capital goods, which alone increases national wealth.
John Maynard KeynesIn truth, the gold standard is already a barbarous relic. All of us, from the Governor of the Bank of England downwards, are now primarily interested in preserving the stability of business, prices, and employment, and are not likely, when the choice is forced on us, deliberately to sacrifice these to outworn dogma, which had its value once, of 3 pounds, 17 shill ings, 10 1/2 pence per ounce. Advocates of the ancient standard do not observe how remote it now is from the spirit and the requirements of the age. A regulated nonmetallic standard has slipped in unnoticed. It exists.
John Maynard KeynesI feel no shame at being found still owning a share when the bottom of the market comesโฆI would go much further than that. I should say that it is from time to time the duty of a serious investor to accept the depreciation of his holdings with equanimity and without reproaching himself. โฆ An investorโฆshould be aiming primarily at long-period results, and should be solely judged by these.
John Maynard Keynes