1881-1973: Ludwig von Mises Bibliography

LUDWIG VON MISES (1881-1973)

"I am sorry that my health does not permit me to pay tribute as I would have liked to the memory of Luigi Einaudi, great scientist, Italian patriot and one of the most illustrious economists and statesmen of our time. It was an honor to be his friend.

"I shall limit myself today to reporting one incident, which seems indicative of the character of the man.

"In 1926, thanks to Laura Spelman Rockefeller, I met Einaudi for the first time. I was traveling in the United States for several months in the company of the Dutch historian Huizinga, the ethnologist Malinowski, and several other noted scholars. At the end of our trip, the group of professors met with the economic faculty of Harvard University. There a heated debate developed, presided over by F.W. Taussig, concerning the economic situation. As a result of this analysis, forecasts for the future were pessimistic.

"Einaudi contributed little to the discussion. But later, as we were returning to the hotel, he addressed me with these few words: 'There are certainly reasons for being pessimistic; but I believe we should remember the words of Lincoln. "It is not possible to fool all of the people all of the time".' It was only this observation by Einaudi that enabled my hopes for Italy and the rest of the world to revive once more.

"The future proved him right and permitted him to play a decisive role in the recovery of his country from the horrors of tryanny and war. His contributions belong to history."