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About this quote

What does it mean?
This quip notes that people enjoy challenging Friedman’s ideas when he is not around to defend them.
In plain terms
People like arguing with famous thinkers when they are not present.
What can you take from it?
Criticism is easier without the subject present.

Where it applies

  • academic discussions
  • political debates
  • media commentary

Putting it to work

  • reflect on debate ethics
  • consider presence in discourse

Questions to consider

  • Is it fair to criticize someone who cannot respond?
  • How does presence change debate?

Another view

It may downplay the value of anonymous critique.

More from Milton Friedman

  1. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

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  2. The Bank [of Canada] gave it a college try, it really did. It just doesn't work that way.

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  3. There is no logical basis for the prohibition of marijuana. $7.7 billion is a lot of money, but that is one of the lesser evils. Our failure to successfully en…

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