The ideas of economists and political philosophers， both when they are right and when they are wrong， are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men， who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence， are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.
无论是正确的还是错误的，经济学家和政治哲学家的思想都比通常理解的有力。确实，世界不受其他任何事物统治。自信不被知识分子影响的那些所谓务实的人，往往只是几个过时经济学家思想的奴隶。（Concluding Notes. p. 383-384）
研究成功的关键是专注于具有长期影响的基础问题。
"We don't inherit poverty from our parents; we inherit their fears."
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
过去是一张地图，显示我们曾去过哪里。