Top 15 John Maynard Keynes Quotes

When my information changes, I alter my conclusions. What do you do, sir?

The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed, the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually slaves of some defunct economist.

If you owe your bank a hundred pounds, you have a problem. But if you owe a million, it has.

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.

Practical men who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back

The master-economist must possess a rare combination of gifts .... He must be mathematician, historian, statesman, philosopher — in some degree. He must understand symbols and speak in words. He must contemplate the particular, in terms of the general, and touch abstract and concrete in the same flight of thought. He must study the present in the light of the past for the purposes of the future. No part of man's nature or his institutions must be entirely outside his regard. He must be purposeful and disinterested in a simultaneous mood, as aloof and incorruptible as an artist, yet sometimes as near to earth as a politician.

The political problem of mankind is to combine three things: economic efficiency, social justice and individual liberty.

When the facts change, I change my mind - what do you do, sir?

The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.

Words ought to be a little wild for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking.

Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.

When the final result is expected to be a compromise, it is often prudent to start from an extreme position.

Ideas shape the course of history.

Worldly wisdom teaches that it is better for reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconventionally.

"But my lord, when we addressed this issue a few years ago, didn't you argue the other side?" He said, "That's true, but when I get more evidence I sometimes change my mind. What do you do?"