When we were told that by freedom we understood free enterprise, we did very little to dispel this monstrous falsehood. Wealth and economic well-being, we have asserted, are the fruits of freedom, while we should have been the first to know that this kind of happiness has been an unmixed blessing only in this country, and it is a minor blessing compared with the truly political freedoms, such as freedom of speech and thought, of assembly and association, even under the best conditions.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the misguided view that equates freedom solely with free enterprise and material wealth. Instead, the speaker suggests that true freedom encompasses political liberties such as freedom of expression, thought, and association, which hold greater significance than economic prosperity. The quote challenges the notion that material well-being alone guarantees happiness and highlights the importance of championing and protecting fundamental political freedoms for a truly free and democratic society.

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