“I remained a socialist for several years, even after my rejection of Marxism; and if there could be such a thing as socialism combined with individual liberty, I would be a socialist still. For nothing could be better than living a modest, simple, and free life in an egalitarian society. It took some time before I recognized this as no more than a beautiful dream; that freedom is more important than equality; that the attempt to realize equality endangers freedom; and that, if freedom is lost, there will not even be equality among the unfree.”

“A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both.”

“Americans are so enamored of equality, they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.”

“The society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither. The society that puts freedom before equality will end up with a great measure of both”

“Why am I a socialist? Simple: Because I believe in freedom.”

“Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”