Henry Hazlitt

Date of Birth: November 28, 1894

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: July 9, 1993

Biography

Henry Hazlitt was an American economist, philosopher, and journalist who made significant contributions to the fields of economics and philosophy through his writing. Born on November 28, 1894, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hazlitt grew up in relative poverty after his father’s early death. He attended the City College of New York but left before graduating to support his family. Hazlitt began his career as a journalist and quickly gained a reputation for his incisive and clear writing style. He worked for various prominent publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Newsweek. He is best known for his book “Economics in One Lesson,” published in 1946, which has sold over a million copies and remains a seminal text in free-market economics. Throughout his career, Hazlitt was a staunch advocate of classical liberalism, individual liberty, and free-market capitalism. He was a strong critic of Keynesian economics and government intervention in the economy. His works have been influential among libertarians, economists, and policymakers who advocate for minimal government interference in economic matters. Hazlitt passed away on July 9, 1993, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential economic thinkers of the 20th century.

5 Interesting Facts about Henry Hazlitt

1. Henry Hazlitt was a self-taught economist; he did not hold a formal degree in economics.

2. He wrote his first book, “Thinking as a Science,” at the age of 21, which was published in 1916.

3. Hazlitt served as the literary editor of The Nation magazine, where he wrote reviews and editorials on a wide range of topics.

4. He was a founding board member of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), one of the oldest free-market think tanks in the United States.

5. Hazlitt was a close associate of other notable economists and philosophers, including Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henry Hazlitt

1. “The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups.”

2. “Economics is haunted by more fallacies than any other study known to man.”

3. “The bad economist sees only what immediately strikes the eye; the good economist also looks beyond.”

4. “Inflation is not only unnecessary for economic growth. As long as it exists, it is the enemy of economic growth.”

5. “The ideas which now pass for brilliant innovations and advances are in fact mere revivals of ancient errors, and a further proof of the dictum that those who are ignorant of the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

There is no public record of Henry Hazlitt’s highest net worth, as he was primarily known for his intellectual contributions rather than financial success.