God grant that we may repent wherever we have departed from the principles of freedom--that we may preserve the right to fail and the incentive to succeed, and live, as did the Founding Fathers, knowing that there are no acceptable substitutes for freedom.

A statesman is a certain type of leader, one who takes character and moral courage into small business and major corporations, the media and entertainment, homes and families, schools and universities, hospitals and law firms, the military or the clergy, and government….Statesmen apply statesmanship to industry, academia, government or whatever career path they choose. Individuals with such training think and act in a certain way. Their decisions are rooted in history, based on true principles, and made concerning the long-term impact on society. The result is an uncommon individual, guided by virtue, wisdom, diplomacy and courage.

In the ethical sense, propaganda bears the same relation to education as to business or politics. It may be abused. It may be used to over-advertise an institution and to create in the public mind artificial values. There can be no absolute guarantee against its misuse.

True capitalists who deeply understand prosperity don't operate a business in order to put another institution out of business. They bring products and services to the market in order to serve others. They understand that it is in their best interests to serve others. They believe in efficient and effective service. (This book isn't out yet. I have an advanced copy of the manuscript).

Sell a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and you've ruined a wonderful business opportunity.

We do not say that a man who ignores politics is a man who minds his own business. We say that he has no business being here at all.

That has always been the dark side of the American dream, the search for an easy way out, a belief in magic. The endless parade of promises that constitutes the heart of American advertising, one of the largest of our national enterprises, testifies to the deep well of superstition in our national foundation, which has been institutionalized in the advertising business. Easy money, easy health, easy beauty, easy education — if only the right incantation can be found.

“Don’t legislate morality.” I suppose persons who mouth that familiar slogan think they are saying something profound. In fact, if that is an argument at all, it is so superficial that an educated person should be ashamed to use it. As should be evident to every thinking person, a high proportion of all legislation has a moral base. That is true of all of the criminal law, most of the laws regulating family relations, businesses, and commercial transactions, many of the laws governing property, and a host of others.

It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?