Harry Browne Quotes

“A big philosophical breakthrough for me was the realization that my own freedom was not only possible, but far more important than the establishment of a free society.”

“A free person has no one to blame.”

“A phony compliment usually isn’t meant to make an individual feel better about himself; it’s meant to make him feel better about the person doing the complimenting.”

“Absolutely every government regulation is enforced by violence. If you’ve never seen that violence, it’s because you’ve been careful, obedient, or lucky.”

“An individual might say, “I don’t want to change anyone.”

And yet, he might still spend a great deal of his time trying to get others to agree with his views, or trying to prevent someone from doing something he thinks will be bad for him, or trying to change people by participating in a movement over a burning issue, or voting to prevent others from doing what they want to do.

In all these ways, he’s trying to change others — to make them do other than what their natures lead them to do.”

“As I lie on my couch by the fireplace, looking out from my hillside home at the snow leading down to the ocean, with the right woman in my arms, a glass of Bordeaux beside me and a Puccini opera on the stereo system, knowing that I’ve earned the pleasure I feel, I’m so glad I didn’t let someone else decide what’s best for me.”

“Don’t attempt to perpetuate a relationship by contract. Change is inevitable.”

“Everyone begins life as a free person. But as time passes, most people accept the prearranged programs and never stop to realize the freedom they possess. They accept standards and situations that are unsuitable to them.”

“For the thief and the humanitarian each have the same motive — to do what he believes will make him feel good. In fact, we can’t avoid a very significant conclusion: Everyone is selfish.”

“Freedom from exploitation is perhaps the easiest freedom to get. All you have to do is to stop participating in any relationship — of any kind — that doesn’t suit you. It”

“He doesn’t sacrifice himself for others, nor does he expect others to be sacrificed for him. He takes the third alternative —  he finds relationships that are mutually beneficial so that no sacrifice is required.”

“Hitler couldn’t have conquered Europe without the help provided by the governments of the occupied nations.”

“I’m free and happy because I accepted myself as I am and found a life that suits me.”

“I’ve concentrated upon the things I control, and used that control to remove the restrictions and complications from my life.”

“If a relationship is structured so that each person has his own area of responsibility over which he has complete control, most of the typical headaches of business can be eliminated.”

“If governments didn’t coercively monopolize the market for protection, there’d undoubtedly be more forms of protection offered on a voluntary basis to those who feel threatened by organized crime.”

“If the dollars you lose in taxes are important to you, then what about the dollars you may be spending to perpetuate boxes you could get out of?”

“If your purpose is to make someone happy, you’re more apt to succeed if you make yourself the object. You’ll never know another person more than a fraction as well as you can know yourself.”

“It’s just as unrealistic to merge your property as it is to try to merge your minds. And property is very important. The control of your own property is the most tangible expression of your freedom.”

“Love is too valuable to allow it to be killed by marriage, social pressures, or any other restriction.”

“Never focus your attention on anyone’s weaknesses — his temper, sloppiness, poor logic, dishonesty, whatever. Recognize these shortcomings, take them into consideration, but don’t waste your time complaining about them. Instead, pay attention to what your actions should be in order to deal with him.”

“Obviously the answer to the threat of communism (or any other enemy) is not a stronger government to defend us but just the opposite. We’d be far safer if there were no government to conquer.”

“One person devotes his life to helping the poor. Another one lies and steals. Still another person tries to create better products and services for which he hopes to be paid handsomely.

One woman devotes herself to her husband and children. Another seeks a career as a singer. In every case, the basic motivation has been the same. Each person is doing what he believes will bring him happiness. What varies between them is the means each has chosen to gain his happiness.”

“People who always thought, “It’s different here.” They failed to realize that no government obeys laws.

It will change, overrule, ignore, or defy them whenever they get in its way. To count on the law to protect you is a grave mistake.”

“So while the totalitarian state may include a TV camera in every room, I doubt that the camera will work.”

“The answer is simple: You are you, the person who will live with the consequences of what you do. No one else can be responsible, because no one else will experience the consequences of your actions as you will.”

“The larger the government, the less efficient and productive is the economy.

Slaves don’t produce with the enthusiasm, incentive, and imagination that free people do. Bureaucratic programs just don’t work as intended.”

“The more directly individual rewards are tied to individual achievements, the greater incentive there is to increase one’s individual effort.”

“The negative side of marriage remains long after the positive goals have been discarded.”

“The objective of freedom is quite realistic; only the methods have been wrong. Don’t be awed by the government. Don’t confront it directly. Don’t organize.”