John Maynard Keynes Quotes

The only trouble with capitalism is capitalists—they're too greedy.

Capitalism did not arise because capitalists stole the land and the workmen's tools, but because it was more efficient than feudalism. It will perish because it is not merely less efficient than socialism, but actually self-destructive.

The genius of capitalism consists precisely in its lack of morality …. Deprive a capitalist of his God-given right to lie and cheat and steal, and the poor sap stands a better than even chance of becoming one of the abominable wards of the state.

The capitalist free market is a marvelous servant but a disastrous master. In one of the greatest achievements of the second half of this [the 20th] century, a few favored societies learned to convert it from master to servant. The danger now is that a smug and vainglorious capitalism will not remember the lesson.

Capitalism has proven to be the only system that works, but the problem with capitalism is that extreme wealth ends up in the hands of a few people.

There's nothing pure about capitalism.

The upholders of Capitalism are dreamers and visionaries who, instead of doing good with evil intentions do evil with the best intentions.

Capitalism is so successful economically that it creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.

Capital is good; the capitalist is a helper if he is not also a monopolist. We can safely let any one get as rich as he can if he will not despoil others in doing so.

Capitalism is very unfair but it is the only system that works.

... the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all.

Capitalism might everywhere be spreading havoc, but it is also triumphant everywhere.

You show me a capitalist, and I'll show you a bloodsucker.

Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate.

Capitalism unchecked is not a democratic system.

Capitalism has destroyed our belief in any effective power but that of self interest backed by force.

Capitalism is at least tolerable, which cannot be said of Socialism or Communism.

The market controls everything, but the market has no heart.

I am an ardent supporter of capitalism - but I also understand that while individuals have inalienable, God-given rights, corporations do not.

Capitalism is not so much an aberration as a step on an evolutionary path, and one that contains within it some of the answers to its own contradictions.

I'm not a communist, of course. But I do think that everything is down to economics. Capitalism doesn't change.

Combinations [large corporate conglomerates], governed entirely by the law of greed … threaten the integrity of our institutions.

Capitalism carries in itself war, like clouds carry rain.

Capitalism will kill competition.

Capitalists are no more capable of self sacrifice than a man is capable of lifting himself by his own bootstraps.