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About this quote

What does it mean?
Friedman questions the moral superiority often assigned to political self-interest compared to economic self-interest.
In plain terms
Why is wanting political gain seen as better than wanting money?
What can you take from it?
Political self-interest is not inherently more noble than economic self-interest.

Where it applies

  • political debate
  • ethical discussion
  • economic theory

Putting it to work

  • critique political motives
  • compare motivations

Questions to consider

  • Is one form of self-interest truly nobler?
  • How do we judge motives?

Another view

Some argue political motives serve the public good more than private gain.

More from Milton Friedman

  1. Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned.

    Permalink to quote #33
  2. I am a limited-government libertarian.

    Permalink to quote #35
  3. Governments never learn. Only people learn.

    Permalink to quote #32

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