John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) was a Canadian-American economist and Harvard professor. He is known for books such as The Affluent Society and The Great Crash, 1929, which examined wealth, markets and speculation.
5 quotes in this collection. Read them below, share your favourites, or follow the related links to explore similar voices.
All quotes by John Kenneth Galbraith
-
“Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy.”
Meaning: Galbraith opened a chapter in his 1977 television-companion book by ranking money beside love, stressing how deeply it shapes emotions. Because it stirs both joy and worry, track spending openly, set a calm monthly review, and talk about money with people you trust. -
“A constant in the history of money is that every remedy is reliably a source of new abuse.”
Meaning: In his history of money, Galbraith observed that each financial fix creates fresh ways to exploit it. Rules and tools never end the problem. Apply it personally: when you adopt a new payment app or credit card, think about how it could tempt you into overspending. -
“The values of a society totally preoccupied with making money are not altogether reassuring.”
Meaning: Galbraith wrote this while describing the speculative mania that preceded the 1929 Wall Street crash. A culture that treats money as the only measure of success can overlook caution and character. Check your own goals: ask what you are trading for income and whether it is worth it. -
“The foresight of financial experts was, as so often, a poor guide to the future.”
Meaning: Galbraith noted in his money history that confident expert predictions often failed. Forecasts sound authoritative but cannot remove uncertainty. When you hear a bold market prediction, treat it as opinion, keep a diversified plan, and never stake money you cannot afford to lose on it. -
“To the man who held stock on margin, disaster had only one face and that was falling prices.”
Meaning: Describing October 1929, Galbraith shows how borrowing to invest turns a price drop into ruin, since lenders demand repayment at the worst time. The lesson is about leverage. Before borrowing to buy an investment, ask whether you could survive a sharp fall without selling.