Lawrence Reed

Economist, Author, Speaker

Lawrence Reed is an influential economist and author known for advocating for free-market principles and individual liberty.

Born
January 1, 1956
Quotes
12
Rank
#1967

About Lawrence Reed

Lawrence Reed — Life and Legacy

Lawrence Reed is a prominent economist and president of the Foundation for Economic Education, recognized for his advocacy of free-market principles and individual liberty. His work emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and limited government in fostering a prosperous society. Reed's quotes often reflect his belief that freedom and responsibility are intertwined, as seen in his assertion that 'freedom is not free.' This highlights his view that maintaining liberty requires vigilance and active participation from citizens. He challenges the notion that government intervention is necessary for societal well-being, arguing instead that economic freedom leads to innovation and growth. Reed's insights remain relevant today, as they encourage individuals to take ownership of their choices and advocate for a society where personal liberties are respected and upheld.

Quote collection

Lawrence Reed quotes

12 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"Marijuana has killed far fewer people than swimming pools; it’s the war against it that does all the violence."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"Our expensive welfare state is fueled by the destructive notion that 'greed' is when you want to keep your own money but 'compassion' is when you want to take somebody else's."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"Have you ever noticed how statists are constantly "reforming" their own handiwork? Education reform. Health-care reform. Welfare reform. Tax reform. The very fact that they're always busy "reforming" is an implicit admission that they didn't get it right the first 50 times."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"Money is an invention of the marketplace of exchange, brought into being by traders who discovered that a reliable medium could facilitate trades that were more difficult or even impossible by barter alone."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"Monetary reform, if it is to be genuine and successful, must sever money and banking from politics. That's why a modern gold standard must have: no central bank; no fixed rations between gold and silver; no bail-outs; no suspension of gold payments or other bank frauds; no monetization of debt; and no inflation of the money supply, all of which have proved so disastrous in the past."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
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"The greatest influence for good comes from those quiet folks who make morals, not moralizing, their vocation."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
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"On the silver screen, capitalists are usually vilified as greedy and heartless, while statists of every stripe are depicted as selfless, romantic idealists who only want to help people."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
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"Pessimism is not only unwarranted, it is also a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think the cause is lost, it will be. No one works hard for a cause they think will lose."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"A statesman doesn't try to pull himself up by dragging someboy else down, and he doesn't try to convience people they're victims just so he can posture as their savior."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"Anything short of the discipline and honesty of a true gold coin standard will inevitably self-destruct, consuming our wealth and liberties, and nurturing the omnipotent state."

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Lawrence Reed Economist, Author, Speaker
Popular

"By mandating an even higher minimum, the living wage prices even more people out of work. The people who push these cockamamie ideas never seem to ask why any employer would hire someone at $8.23 if that person's services are only valued in the marketplace at, say, $5.00."

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