Paul Samuelson

"A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both."

"The test of successful economic organization is not perfection but whether it beats the available alternative."

"Mathematics brings rigor, but rigor alone does not bring truth."

"Only the very young and the very old can be certain about their opinions."

"In economics, hope and faith coexist with great scientific pretension."

"The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design."

"Progress is not automatic; it requires vigilance and constant effort."

"One cannot be a true intellectual without humility."

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."

"When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it."

"Education is the most powerful tool for changing the world."

"I used to think the brain was the most important organ. Then I thought, what is telling me that?"

"Political economy is not the science of getting rich, but of providing abundance for all."

"The moment you make a mistake is the moment you begin to learn."

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

"The greatest teacher is not the one with all the answers, but the one who teaches you to find them."

"Patience and persistence eventually overcome all obstacles."

"An intellectual is a person who has discovered something more interesting than money."

"The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is the highest human calling."

"Systems are not perfect, but we must work with what we have and improve it."

"To teach is to touch a life forever."

"In the long run, the market is a pretty good servant, but a terrible master."

"Understanding requires both facts and imagination."

"The cost of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it."

"Great achievements are not built on luck, but on consistent effort."

"To be truly educated means to be forever learning."

"Diversity of thought prevents stagnation and breeds innovation."

"The written word has the power to change minds across generations."

"Reason must be tempered with compassion."

"A life without reflection is a life half-lived."