The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

Quote by John Kenneth Galbraith

Topics: Conservative Quotes

It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals....

It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals....

Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.

Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.

You will find that the State is the kind of organization which, though it does...

You will find that the State is the kind of organization which, though it does...

The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled.

The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled.

We are becoming the servants in thought, as in action, of the machine we have...

We are becoming the servants in thought, as in action, of the machine we have...

Few people at the beginning of the nineteenth century needed an adman to tell them...

Few people at the beginning of the nineteenth century needed an adman to tell them...

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.

The conspicuously wealthy turn up urging the character building values of the privation of the...

The conspicuously wealthy turn up urging the character building values of the privation of the...

Of all classes the rich are the most noticed and the least studied.

Of all classes the rich are the most noticed and the least studied.

If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.

If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.

There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.

There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.

More die in the United States of too much food than of too little.

More die in the United States of too much food than of too little.

One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen...

One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen...

Where humor is concerned there are no standards - no one can say what is...

Where humor is concerned there are no standards - no one can say what is...

Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.

Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.

The commencement speech is not, I think, a wholly satisfactory manifestation of our culture.

The commencement speech is not, I think, a wholly satisfactory manifestation of our culture.

Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything.

Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything.

In any great organization it is far, far safer to be wrong with the majority...

In any great organization it is far, far safer to be wrong with the majority...

Few people at the beginning of the nineteenth century needed an adman to tell them...

Few people at the beginning of the nineteenth century needed an adman to tell them...

We have escapist fiction, so why not escapist biography?

We have escapist fiction, so why not escapist biography?