John James Cowperthwaite - I still believe that, in the long run, the aggregate of the decisions of in

I still believe that, in the long run, the aggregate of the decisions of individual businessmen, exercising individual judgment in a free economy, even if often mistaken, is likely to do less harm than the centralized decisions of a Government; and certainly the harm is likely to be counteracted faster. As I said earlier in this debate, our economic medicine may be painful but it is fast and powerful because it can act freely.

- John James Cowperthwaite

source: Official Report of Proceedings of the Hong Kong Legislative Council (p. 216), March 24, 1966.

topic: Running, Powerful, Believe, Free Economy