Famous Alan Greenspan Quotes, born March 6, 1926, in New York City, is an American economist who served as Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006, steering the U.S. economy through the 1987 stock market crash, the dot-com bubble, and the post-9/11 recovery. Dubbed “The Maestro” for his monetary policy finesse, Greenspan’s cryptic “Fedspeak” and market influence made him a global figure, though his legacy faced scrutiny after the 2008 financial crisis. A former clarinetist with a Ph.D. from NYU, his words shaped economic thought for decades. These 15 famous quotes—sourced from speeches, interviews, The Age of Turbulence (2008), and congressional testimonies—capture his most iconic insights on markets, human behavior, and economic policy, reflecting his analytical brilliance and enduring impact.
15 Famous Alan Greenspan Quotes
- “I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” (The Age of Turbulence, 2008)
- “Irrational exuberance.” (Speech, American Enterprise Institute, December 5, 1996)
- “In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation.” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1986)
- “I made a mistake in presuming that the self-interests of organizations, specifically banks and others, were such that they were best capable of protecting their own shareholders and their equity in the firms.” (Testimony, House Oversight Committee, October 23, 2008)
- “If I turn out to be particularly clear, you’ve probably misunderstood what I’ve said.” (Speech, Economic Club of New York, 1988)
- “The United States can pay any debt it has because we can always print money to do that. So there is zero probability of default.” (Interview, NBC’s Meet the Press, August 7, 2011)
- “Whatever you have, spend less.” (Interview, CNN, 2008)
- “Fear is a far more dominant force in human behaviour than euphoria.” (Interview, Financial Times, 2013)
- “Deficit spending is simply a scheme for the confiscation of wealth.” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1986)
- “I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you’ve probably misunderstood what I’ve said.” (Speech to Congress, 1987)
- “We can have little hope that the situation will improve if we rely solely on the uninformed to make critical economic decisions.” (Speech, Federal Reserve, 1998)
- “The true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake.” (Speech, NYU Commencement, 1999)
- “An almost hysterical antagonism toward the gold standard is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions.” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1986)
- “There are no easy choices. Easy choices are long gone.” (Speech, National Association for Business Economics, 2004)
- “Productivity is the key to increasing living standards.” (Testimony, Senate Banking Committee, 2005)
Alan Greenspan’s famous quotes blend sharp economic insight, wry humor, and timeless warnings, inspiring reflection on markets, responsibility, and progress. Which quote resonates with your view of the economy? Drop it below and keep Greenspan’s legacy sparking debate!
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