"Knowledge may be enjoyed as a speculative diversion, but it is needed for decision making."

Thomas Sowell Economics See all quotes by Thomas Sowell →

React to this quote

More by Thomas Sowell

“Understanding the limitations of human beings is the beginning of wisdom.”

“Most problems do not get solved. They get superseded by other concerns.”

“People who pride themselves on their "complexity" and deride others for being "simplistic" should realize that the truth is often not very complicated. What gets complex is evading the truth.”

“It is amazing how many people think that they can answer an argument by attributing bad motives to those who disagree with them. Using this kind of reasoning, you can believe or not believe anything about anything, without having to bother to deal with facts or logic.”

“The fact that so many successful politicians are such shameless liars is not only a reflection on them, it is also a reflection on us. When the people want the impossible, only liars can satisfy.”

“The greatness of a free-market economy is that it does not depend upon the wisdom of those who happen to be on top at the moment.”

Resonant Thoughts

"The troubles of the 20th century are not unlike those of adolescence -- rapid growth beyond the ability of organizations to manage, uncontrollable emotion, and a desperate search for identity. Out of …"

— Kenneth Boulding

Economics1910–1993

#knowledge

"All but one of the programs cited in her notes had been prepared by Babbage from three to seven years earlier. The exception was prepared by Babbage for her, although she did detect a 'bug' in it. Not…"

— Ada Lovelace

Mathematics1815–1852

#knowledge

"...they who would make peace without a previous knowledge of the terms, make a surrender. They are conquered. They do not treat; they receive the law. Is this the disposition of the people of England?…"

— Edmund Burke

Philosophy1729–1797

#knowledge

"It was always my affectation even from a child, in all pieces of Learning or Knowledge, not merely to learn by rote, which is soon forgotten, but to know the grounds or reasons of what I learn; to inf…"

— John Wallis

Mathematics1616–1703

#knowledge