Classical Liberalism

Economic knowledge necessarily leads to liberalism.

A Critique of Interventionism, p. 86

Several generations of economic policy which was nearly liberal have enormously increased the wealth of the world.

Socialism, p. 13

For Liberalism has never pretended to be more than a philosophy of earthly life. What it teaches is concerned only with earthly action and desistance from action. It has never claimed to exhaust the Last or Greatest Secret of Man.

Socialism, p. 37

Liberalism champions private property in the means of production because it expects a higher standard of living from such an economic organization, not because it wishes to help the owners.

Socialism, p. 46

That Liberalism aims at the protection of property and that it rejects war are two expressions of one and the same principle.

Socialism, p. 59

The only task of the strictly Liberal state is to secure life and property against attacks both from external and internal foes.

Socialism, p. 133

Freedom, democracy, peace, and private property are deemed good because they are the best means for promoting human happiness and welfare. Liberalism wants to secure to man a life free from fear and want. That is all.

Omnipotent Government, p. 51

The main excellence of the liberal scheme of social, economic, and political organization is precisely this—that it makes the peaceful cooperation of nations possible.

Omnipotent Government, p. 91

Imagine a world order in which liberalism is supreme . . . there is private property in the means of production. The working of the market is not hampered by government interference. There are no trade barriers; men can live and work where they want. Frontiers are drawn on the maps but they do not hinder the migrations of men and shipping of commodities. Natives do not enjoy rights that are denied to aliens. . . . The courts are independent and effectively protect everybody against the encroachments of officialdom. Everyone is permitted to say, to write, and to print what he likes. Education is not subject to government interference. . . . The men in office are regarded as mortal men, not as superhuman beings or as paternal authorities who have the right and duty to hold the people in tutelage. Governments do not have the power to dictate to the citizens.

Omnipotent Government, pp. 91–92

To the man who adopts the scientific method in reflecting upon the problems of human action, liberalism must appear as the only policy that can lead to lasting well-being for himself, his friends, and his loved ones, and, indeed, for all others as well. Only one who does not want to achieve such ends as life, health, and prosperity for himself, his friends, and those he loves, only one who prefers sickness, misery, and suffering may reject the reasoning of liberalism.

Epistemological Problems of Economics, p. 39