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A man who chooses between drinking a glass of milk and a glass of a solution of potassium cyanide does not choose between two beverages; he chooses between life and death. A society that chooses between capitalism and socialism does not choose between two social systems; it chooses between social cooperation and the disintegration of society. Socialism is not an alternative to capitalism; it is an alternative to any system under which men can live as human beings. - Human Action

Ludwig von Mises#16

SocietyCapitalismSocialismChoice

About this quote

What does it mean?
Mises equates choosing socialism with choosing societal disintegration, contrasting it sharply with capitalism as the only viable system for human life.
In plain terms
Choosing socialism means choosing society to fall apart, not just changing systems.
What can you take from it?
Socialism leads to social breakdown unlike capitalism.

Where it applies

  • economic debate
  • political philosophy

Putting it to work

  • compare economic systems
  • evaluate societal outcomes

Questions to consider

  • Is this a fair comparison?
  • What defines a viable society?

Another view

This is a strong claim with historical and practical nuances.

More from Ludwig von Mises

  1. Profits are the driving force of the market economy. The greater the profits, the better the needs of the consumers are supplied.

    Permalink to quote #15
  2. All this talk: the state should do this or that, ultimately means: the police should force consumers to behave otherwise than they would behave spontaneously.

    Permalink to quote #17
  3. Every specific tax, as well as the nation's whole tax system, becomes self-defeating above a certain height of the rates.

    Permalink to quote #14

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