Quotes from book
The New Industrial State

The New Industrial State

The New Industrial State is a 1967 book by John Kenneth Galbraith. Three revised editions appeared in 1972, 1978 and 1985.


John Kenneth Galbraith photo
John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“While it will be desirable to achieve planned results, it will be even more important to avoid unplanned disasters.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter XV, Section 2, p. 169

John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“Educators have yet to realize how deeply the industrial system is dependent upon them.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter XXXIII, Section 4, p. 375

John Kenneth Galbraith photo
John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“Oligopoly is an imperfect monopoly. Like the despotism of the Dual Monarchy, it is saved only by its incompetence.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter XVI, Section 2, p. 182

John Kenneth Galbraith photo
John Kenneth Galbraith photo
John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“By all but the pathologically romantic, it is now recognized that this is not the age of the small man.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter III, Section 5, p. 32

John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“The first goal of the technostructure is its own security.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter XXIII, Section 2, p. 265

John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“To add to the technostructure is to increase its power in the enterprise.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter XXI, Section 2, p. 236

John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“If a man be subject to the authority of another, he can at least ask that it not be an occasion for glee.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter XXV, Section 2, p. 293 (1985)

John Kenneth Galbraith photo
John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“Should there be sacrifice, as always in the mature corporation, it is not suffered by those who agree to it.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter XXII, Section 4, p. 262 (1985)

John Kenneth Galbraith photo

“Nothing so effectively economizes effort and intelligence, as distinct from anxiety, as the knowledge that nothing can be done.”

Source: The New Industrial State (1967), Chapter VIII, Section 1, p. 91 (1985)

John Kenneth Galbraith photo