Libertarian Quotes & Memes

Please feel free to download and share these political quotes and memes. They generally emphasize civil liberties, small government, classical economics, and other libertarian ideas. You might also like these Marcus Aurelius memes.

Thomas Sowell
Thomas Jefferson
Penn Jillette
Milton Friedman
Ludwig Von Mises
H. L. Mencken
George Orwell
Friedrich Nietzsche
Frederic Bastiat
Evelyn Beatrice Hall

Thomas Jefferson Quotes and Memes

A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.
Thomas Jefferson

A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. - Thomas Jefferson — “A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” – Thomas Jefferson

NOTE: While multiple sources have attributed this quote to Thomas Jefferson, there is evidence that this may be a misquote. He may not have actually made this statement. Please do your research before sharing this meme.

Penn Jillette Quotes & Memes

Every time something really bad happens, people cry out for safety, and the government answers by taking rights away from good people.
Penn Jillette

Every time something really bad happens, people cry out for safety, and the government answers by taking rights away from good people. - Penn Jillette — “Every time something really bad happens, people cry out for safety, and the government answers by taking rights away from good people.” – Penn Jillette

Milton Friedman Quotes & Memes

The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit.
Milton Friedman

The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit. - Milton Friedman — “The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit.” – Milton Friedman

Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.
Milton Friedman

Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program. - Milton Friedman — “Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.” – Milton Friedman

Many people want the government to protect the consumer. A much more urgent problem is to protect the consumer from the government.
Milton Friedman

Many people want the government to protect the consumer. A much more urgent problem is to protect the consumer from the government. - Milton Friedman — “Many people want the government to protect the consumer. A much more urgent problem is to protect the consumer from the government.” – Milton Friedman

Inflation is the one form of taxation that can be imposed without legislation.
Milton Friedman

Inflation is the one form of taxation that can be imposed without legislation. - Milton Friedman — “Inflation is the one form of taxation that can be imposed without legislation.” – Milton Friedman

If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there’d be a shortage of sand.
Milton Friedman

If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand. - Milton Friedman — “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there’d be a shortage of sand.” – Milton Friedman

“The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.”
Milton Friedman

The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem. - Milton Friedman — “The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.” – Milton Friedman

Ludwig von Mises Quotes & Memes

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out.
Ludwig von Mises

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out. - Ludwig Von Mises — “All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out.” – Ludwig von Mises

Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities.
Ludwig von Mises

Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities. - Ludwig Von Mises — “Many who are self-taught far excel the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities.” – Ludwig Von Mises

All rational action is in the first place individual action. Only the individual thinks. Only the individual reasons. Only the individual acts.
Ludwig von Mises

All rational action is in the first place individual action. Only the individual thinks. Only the individual reasons. Only the individual acts. - Ludwig von Mises — “All rational action is in the first place individual action. Only the individual thinks. Only the individual reasons. Only the individual acts.” – Ludwig von Mises

He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them.
Ludwig von Mises

He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them. - Ludwig von Mises — “He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them.” – Ludwig von Mises

If history could teach us anything, it would be that private property is inextricably linked with civilization.
Ludwig von Mises

If history could teach us anything, it would be that private property is inextricably linked with civilization. - Ludwig von Mises — “If history could teach us anything, it would be that private property is inextricably linked with civilization.” – Ludwig von Mises

Once the principle is admitted that it is the duty of the government to protect the individual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be advanced against further encroachments.
Ludwig von Mises

Once the principle is admitted that it is the duty of the government to protect the individual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be advanced against further encroachments. - Ludwig von Mises — “Once the principle is admitted that it is the duty of the government to protect the individual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be advanced against further encroachments.” – Ludwig von Mises

He who only wishes and hopes does not interfere actively with the course of events and with the shaping of his own destiny.
Ludwig von Mises

He who only wishes and hopes does not interfere actively with the course of events and with the shaping of his own destiny. - Ludwig von Mises — “He who only wishes and hopes does not interfere actively with the course of events and with the shaping of his own destiny.” – Ludwig von Mises

Freedom is indivisible. As soon as one starts to restrict it, one enters upon a decline on which it is difficult to stop.
Ludwig von Mises

Freedom is indivisible. As soon as one starts to restrict it, one enters upon a decline on which it is difficult to stop. - Ludwig von Mises — “Freedom is indivisible. As soon as one starts to restrict it, one enters upon a decline on which it is difficult to stop.” – Ludwig von Mises

Every step which leads from capitalism toward planning is necessarily a step nearer to absolutism and dictatorship.
Ludwig von Mises

Every step which leads from capitalism toward planning is necessarily a step nearer to absolutism and dictatorship. - Ludwig von Mises — “Every step which leads from capitalism toward planning is necessarily a step nearer to absolutism and dictatorship.” – Ludwig von Mises

It is the consumers who make poor people rich and rich people poor.
Ludwig von Mises

It is the consumers who make poor people rich and rich people poor. - Ludwig von Mises — “It is the consumers who make poor people rich and rich people poor.” – Ludwig von Mises

The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion.
Ludwig von Mises

The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion. - Ludwig von Mises — “The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion.” – Ludwig von Mises

In a capitalist society one can hold on to one’s fortune only if one perpetually acquires it anew by investing it wisely.
Ludwig von Mises

In a capitalist society one can hold on to one’s fortune only if one perpetually acquires it anew by investing it wisely. - Ludwig von Mises — “In a capitalist society one can hold on to one’s fortune only if one perpetually acquires it anew by investing it wisely.” – Ludwig von Mises

H.L. Mencken Quotes & Memes

The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it.
H. L. Mencken

The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. - H. L. Mencken — “The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it.” – H. L. Mencken

George Orwell Quotes & Memes

Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
George Orwell

Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. - George Orwell — “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” – George Orwell

Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes & Memes

Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. - Friedrich Nietzsche — “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Frederic Bastiat Quotes & Memes

When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law.
Frederic Bastiat

When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law. - Frederic Bastiat — “When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law.” – Frederic Bastiat

The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended.
Frederic Bastiat

The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended. - Frederic Bastiat — “The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended.” – Frederic Bastiat

The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.
Frederic Bastiat

The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else. - Frederic Bastiat — “The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.” – Frederic Bastiat

There are people who think that plunder loses all its immorality as soon as it becomes legal. Personally, I cannot imagine a more alarming situation.
Frederic Bastiat

There are people who think that plunder loses all its immorality as soon as it becomes legal. Personally, I cannot imagine a more alarming situation. - Frederic Bastiat — “There are people who think that plunder loses all its immorality as soon as it becomes legal. Personally, I cannot imagine a more alarming situation.” – Frederic Bastiat

The most urgent necessity is, not that the State should teach, but that it should allow education. All monopolies are detestable, but the worst of all is the monopoly of education.
Frederic Bastiat

The most urgent necessity is, not that the State should teach, but that it should allow education. All monopolies are detestable, but the worst of all is the monopoly of education. - Frederic Bastiat — “The most urgent necessity is, not that the State should teach, but that it should allow education. All monopolies are detestable, but the worst of all is the monopoly of education.” – Frederic Bastiat

Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.
Frederic Bastiat

Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place. - Frederic Bastiat — “Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.” – Frederic Bastiat

It’s always tempting to do good at someone else’s expense.
Frederic Bastiat

It's always tempting to do good at someone else's expense. - Frederic Bastiat — “It’s always tempting to do good at someone else’s expense.” – Frederic Bastiat

If philanthropy is not voluntary, it destroys liberty and justice. The law can give nothing that has not first been taken from its owner.
Frederic Bastiat

If philanthropy is not voluntary, it destroys liberty and justice. The law can give nothing that has not first been taken from its owner. - Frederic Bastiat — “If philanthropy is not voluntary, it destroys liberty and justice. The law can give nothing that has not first been taken from its owner.” – Frederic Bastiat

If goods don’t cross borders, armies will.
Frederic Bastiat

If goods don't cross borders, armies will. - Frederic Bastiat — “If goods don’t cross borders, armies will.” – Frederic Bastiat

Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state wants to live at the expense of everyone.
Frederic Bastiat

Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state wants to live at the expense of everyone. - Frederic Bastiat — “Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state wants to live at the expense of everyone.” – Frederic Bastiat

Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don’t you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough.
Frederic Bastiat

Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough. - Frederic Bastiat — “Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don’t you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough.” – Frederic Bastiat

Evelyn Beatrice Hall Quotes & Memes

While I may not agree with what you have to say, I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall