After order and liberty, economy is one of the highest essentials of a free government…. Economy is always a guarantee of peace.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
A science of economics must be developed before a science of politics can be logically formulated. Essentially, economics is the science of determining whether the interests of human beings are harmonious or antagonistic. This must be known before a science of politics can be formulated to determine the proper functions of government.
—Frederic Bastiat (1801–50) French Political Economist
The animals that depend on instinct have an inherent knowledge of the laws of economics and of how to apply them; Man, with his powers of reason, has reduced economics to the level of a farce which is at once funnier and more tragic than Tobacco Road.
—James Thurber
Economy is the art of making the most of life. The love of economy is the root of all virtue.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
A sound economy is a sound understanding brought into action. It is calculation realized; it is the doctrine of proportion reduced to practice; it is foreseeing contingencies and providing against them; it is expecting contingencies and being prepared for them.
—Hannah More
It seems to be a law in American life that whatever enriches us anywhere except in the wallet inevitably becomes uneconomic.
—Russell Baker (1925–2019) American Journalist, Humorist, Television Host
In economics, hope and faith coexist with great scientific pretension and also a deep desire for respectability.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
Men talk in raptures of youth and beauty, wit and sprightliness; but after seven years of union, not one of them is to be compared to good family management, which is seen at every meal, and felt every hour in the husband’s purse.
—John Witherspoon (1723–94) Scottish-American Presbyterian Theologian
An economist is someone who knows more about money than the people who have it.
—Unknown
Not to be covetous, is money; not to be a purchaser, is a revenue.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
We might come closer to balancing the Budget if all of us lived closer to the Commandments and the Golden Rule.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
The whole of the global economy is based on supplying the cravings of two per cent of the world’s population.
—Bill Bryson (1951–95) American Humorist, Author, Educator
Economy, whether public or private, means the wise management of labor, mainly in three senses; applying labor rationally, preserving its produce carefully, and distributing its produce seasonably.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
There are but two ways of paying debt—increase of industry in raising income, increase of thrift in laying out.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
We can no longer allow America’s dependence on foreign oil to compromise our energy security. Instead, we must invest in inventing new ways to power our cars and our economy. I’ll put my faith in American science and ingenuity any day before I depend on Saudi Arabia.
—John Kerry (b.1943) American Politician, Diplomat
Economy is the method by which we prepare today to afford the improvements of tomorrow
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
If all the economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Economic growth is not only unncessary, but ruinous.
—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) Russian Dissident Novelist
An economist’s guess is liable to be as good as anybody else’s.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
But while they prate of economic laws, men and women are starving. We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
No gain is so certain as that which proceeds from the economical use of what you already have.
—Latin Proverb
Frugality is founded on the principal that all riches have limits.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father’s wisdom than he that has a great deal left him does to his father’s care.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Commerce has set the mark of selfishness, the signet of its all-enslaving power, upon a shining ore, and called it gold: before whose image bow the vulgar great, the vainly rich, the miserable proud, the mob of peasants, nobles, priests, and kings, and with blind feelings reverence the power that grinds them to the dust of misery.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
There can be economy only where there is efficiency.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Inflation is repudiation.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
There is no gain so certain as that which arises from sparing what you have.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The man who will live above his present circumstances, is in great danger of soon living much beneath them; or as the Italian proverb says, “The man that lives by hope, will die by despair.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The study of economy usually shows us that the best time for purchase was last year.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer