Friedrich August von Hayek Quotes

Austrian - Economist | May 8, 1899 - March 23, 1992

'Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.

Friedrich August von Hayek

FreedomLibertyAlwaysIndividual

I do not think it is an exaggeration to say history is largely a history of inflation, usually inflations engineered by governments for the gain of governments.

Friedrich August von Hayek

HistoryThinkSayGainInflation

Perhaps the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose one's government is not necessarily to secure freedom.

Friedrich August von Hayek

FreedomGovernmentGenerationVoting

If we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion.

Friedrich August von Hayek

SocietyFreeWishObjectPreserve

Why should we, however, in economics, have to plead ignorance of the sort of facts on which, in the case of a physical theory, a scientist would certainly be expected to give precise information?

Friedrich August von Hayek

IgnoranceEconomicsFactsInformation

A claim for equality of material position can be met only by a government with totalitarian powers.

Friedrich August von Hayek

GovernmentEqualityPositionClaim

Freedom granted only when it is known beforehand that its effects will be beneficial is not freedom.

Friedrich August von Hayek

FreedomWillOnlyKnownGranted

He will therefore have to use what knowledge he can achieve, not to shape the results as the craftsman shapes his handiwork, but rather to cultivate a growth by providing the appropriate environment, in the manner in which the gardener does this for his plants.

Friedrich August von Hayek

LearningGrowthKnowledgePlants

The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.

Friedrich August von Hayek

MenFinanceCuriousEconomicsDesign

We shall not grow wiser before we learn that much that we have done was very foolish.

Friedrich August von Hayek

ExperienceGrowLearnDoneWiser

To act on the belief that we possess the knowledge and the power which enable us to shape the processes of society entirely to our liking, knowledge which in fact we do not possess, is likely to make us do much harm.

Friedrich August von Hayek

KnowledgePowerSocietyBeliefShape

We must face the fact that the preservation of individual freedom is incompatible with a full satisfaction of our views of distributive justice.

Friedrich August von Hayek

FreedomJusticeFaceSatisfaction

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