Ethics and Morality

It is forbidden to kill; therefore, all murderers are punished unless they kill large numbers to the sound of trumpets.

Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced.

No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.

That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.

The state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else.

Only a government that is rich and safe can afford to be a democracy, for democracy is the most expensive and nefarious kind of government ever heard of on earth.

Government is the people's business and every man, woman and child becomes a shareholder with the first penny of tax paid.

The highest use of capital is not to make more money, but to make money do more for the betterment of life.

Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the leper’s bell of an approaching looter.

The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue.

A man is usually more careful of his money than he is of his principles.

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the wickedest of men will do the wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.

The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit.

Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility.

A man of business may talk of philosophy; a man who has none may practise it.

Advertising is legalized lying.

The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.

It is difficult, but not impossible, to conduct strictly honest business.

Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party.

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.

Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.

The first duty of a man is to think for himself.

I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

My choice early in life was either to be a piano-player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference.