Thomas Sowell (born June 30, 1930) is an American economist, thought leader, and prolific author. He’s renowned for his thoughtful insights into economics, social and political theory, and related issues. Sowell was born in segregated North Carolina and grew up in Harlem, New York City. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean War. Sowell graduated from Harvard University in 1958 and obtained a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago in 1968. He has been a professor at several universities (including Cornell and UCLA), a fellow at several prominent think-tank institutions (including the Hoover Institution), and has written dozens of books and even more articles and essays.
Sowell has been and continues to be an important voice in the American conservative movement. He is a staunch defender of free market capitalism and an advocate for a mix of classical and Austrian school of economic principles. His book, “Basic Economics,” is essential reading for those seeking an understanding of fundamental economic principles, clearly explained. Sowell is a vocal skeptic of government intervention in both economic and social matters. In addition to economics, he has written extensively about culture, education, race relations, and civil rights.
Sowell’s work is most well-received in conservative, libertarian, and classical liberal circles. He analyzes issues from a “first principles” perspective, is committed to intellectual honesty, and strives to find the root causes of societal issues. Sowell has a talent for expressing his thoughts and explaining complex concepts in a clear and understandable manner. His work stands the test of time, continues to influence, and is frequently cited by politicians, business leaders, economists, and scholars.
Thomas Sowell Quotes
“Some things are believed because they are demonstrably true. But many other things are believed simply because they have been asserted repeatedly—and repetition has been accepted as a substitute for evidence.”
“There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs.”
“Competition does a much more effective job than government at protecting consumers.”
“The first lesson of economics is scarcity: There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics.”
“Mistakes can be corrected by those who pay attention to facts but dogmatism will not be corrected by those who are wedded to a vision.”
“I have never understood why it is ‘greed’ to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money.”
“Those who cry out that the government should ‘do something’ never even ask for data on what has actually happened when the government did something, compared to what actually happened when the government did nothing.”
“Sometimes it seems as if there are more solutions than problems. On closer scrutiny, it turns out that many of today’s problems are a result of yesterday’s solutions.”
“Intellect is not wisdom.”
“The problem isn’t that Johnny can’t read. The problem isn’t even that Johnny can’t think. The problem is that Johnny doesn’t know what thinking is. He confuses it with feeling.”
“Too much of what is called ‘education’ is little more than an expensive isolation from reality.”
Thomas Sowell Books
“Basic Economics – Common Sense Guide to the Economy” – by Thomas Sowell
“Economic Facts and Fallacies, 2nd Edition” – by Thomas Sowell
“The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy” – by Thomas Sowell
“Social Justice Fallacies” – by Thomas Sowell
For additional information, quotes, and books on similarly relevant famous individuals, please visit the SAGE PROFILES page on the site. Please also visit the SAGE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS page for many other great reads sure to add to your worldly wisdom. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
