November 20, 2007 6:07 AM
by Jeffrey Tucker
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I finally finished Mises: The Last Knight of Liberalism, by Jorg Guido Hulsmann. Reading the reports on Mises.org, I understand that with any work, there are criticisms to be had. I suppose I must joint he choir in saying that the greatest criticism was that it wasn't long enough. There are so many questions that appear to my mind. While Mises and his intellectual achievements are well represented, Mises, the person, remains ever obscure. But that is what he desired, that is what he attempted to accomplish in destroying so much of all that was personal to him. In a strange way, the Nazi's and Communists are responsible for much that we know about the personal Mises, that and the few accounts of people close to him. But there are so many friends and people that appear throughout the books, and their stories are yet untold, and even their interactions with Mises are limited to only a few pages or a few words. Hulsmann had quite a challenge and he did splendidly.
Comments (1)
Bruce Koerber
"Mises, the person, remains ever obscure. But that is what he desired, that is what he attempted to accomplish in destroying so much of all that was personal to him."
This is evidence that Mises knew that he would be a standard bearer. He knew the effect that his economic works would have on the generations to come. He wanted nothing to detract from that purpose. Such humility is beautiful and rare.
I like the similar humility that I see in Ron Paul. Even though he has to expose the details of his life to champion the same cause (as Mises because he is in the political arena, yet he knows himself (his reality as a servant of mankind) so well that his actions and words are those of a humble person.
Since I missed being able to know Mises I am very grateful to be aware of the career and the life of Ron Paul and the battles for liberty and justice that he is waging. I am humbled by his humility!
Published: November 20, 2007 5:49 PM