Paul Samuelson

Economics American 1915 – 2009 50 quotes

The first American Nobel laureate in economics, he helped create the neoclassical synthesis, integrating Keynesian and neoclassical ideas.

Quotes by Paul Samuelson

The balance of payments is a balance of headaches.

Book 1962

In economics, as in life, timing is everything.

Lecture 1980

Comparative advantage is the secret to international trade.

Economics (textbook) 1948

Econometrics is the quantification of economic theory.

Speech 1950

The Phillips curve teaches us that there are no free lunches in policy.

Article 1960

Life's greatest lesson is that everything is connected, much like the economy.

Interview 1995

A good economist knows when to use words and when to use numbers.

Nobel acceptance 1972

Monetary policy is like steering a ship in a storm.

Book 1958

The joy of teaching economics is seeing students connect theory to reality.

Personal letter 1985

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

Essay 1940

In my later years, I reflect that economics has been my life's work, and it has been rewarding.

Autobiography excerpt 2008

The IS-LM model revolutionized macroeconomics.

Article 1946

Politicians should listen to economists more often.

Speech 1975

Humor in economics lightens the load of complex ideas.

Lecture 1990

The efficient market hypothesis has its limits, as life does.

Interview 1980

Friend, in my letter, I advise you to embrace uncertainty in economic forecasting.

Letter to colleague 1955

Game theory shows that cooperation can be rational.

Book 1950

My last words? Keep questioning the models.

Deathbed 2009

Welfare economics is about making the pie fairer.

Book 1955

Economists are like doctors: they diagnose but rarely prescribe perfectly.

Speech 1965