It has been shown that, in contrast to everything which classical national economy has hitherto taught, not the producer but the consumer is the ruling factor in economic life.

Meaning of the quote

This quote means that what people buy, not what companies make, is the most important part of the economy. In the past, experts thought that companies were the most important part of the economy. But now, we know that consumers, or the people who buy things, are actually the ones in charge of the economy.

About Hjalmar Schacht

Hjalmar Schacht was a prominent German economist, banker, and politician who served in various roles under the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He was known for his criticism of Germany’s post-World War I reparations obligations and his involvement in the country’s economic policies, including the “economic miracle” and rearmament efforts.

More about the author

More quotes from Hjalmar Schacht

The German future lies in the hands of our Fuehrer.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Material loss can be made up through renewed labor, but the moral wrong which has been inflicted upon the conquered peoples, in the peace dictates, leaves a burning scar on the people’s conscience.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Allied supplies of arms to Russia, and the manpower reserves of Russia have been sufficient to bring continuous counter-attacks against our Eastern Front.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Germany can generally only pay if the Corridor and Upper Silesia will be handed back to Germany from Polish possession, and if besides somewhere on the earth colonial territory will be made available to Germany.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Only the closest collaborators of the Fuehrer know how difficult is the burden of this responsibility; how sorrowful are the hours during which decisions must be made which bear upon the well being and the fate of all of Germany.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

I can assure you that everything I say and do has the complete approval of the Fuehrer and that I would not say or do anything that does not have his approval.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

It stands, essentially, for the application of increased energy to the efforts already undertaken by my ministry since 1934 with the results shown in the above statistics.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

The Jews must realize that their influence in Germany has disappeared for all time.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Rules are to be initiated for the allotment of scarce raw materials etc; and their use and processing for other than war, or otherwise absolutely vital, goods is prohibited.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

And this thesis is somewhat connected with general social and political observations, because it establishes the fact that the number of consumers is considerably larger than the number of producers, a fact which exercises a not inconsiderable social and political pressure.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

But what you could perhaps do with in these days is a word of most sincere sympathy. Your movement is carried internally by so strong a truth and necessity that victory in one form or another cannot elude you for long.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Instead of a weak and vacillating Government, a single, purposeful, energetic personality is ruling today.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

The repeated announcements that the Russian resistance was definitely broken have been proved to be untrue.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

After the many rumours that we had heard about Hitler and the published criticisms we had read about him, we were pleasantly impressed. His appearance was neither pretentious nor affected.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Since our economy is closely allied with that of foreign countries, not one of us can be indifferent to what consequences these disturbances can have at home and abroad.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

The economy is a very sensitive organism.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

But the memory of war weighs undiminished upon the people’s minds. That is because deeper than material wounds, moral wounds are smarting, inflicted by the so- called peace treaties.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

It has been shown that, in contrast to everything which classical national economy has hitherto taught, not the producer but the consumer is the ruling factor in economic life.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Wherever my work may take me in the near future even if you should see me one day within the fortress – you can always count on me as your reliable assistant.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

Germany stays and falls with the success of the policy of Hitler.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

With the aid of this credit policy, however, Germany created an armament second to none, and this armament in turn made possible the results of our policy.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

The aim and the idea of the Four Year Plan were and remain entirely correct and necessary!

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

The presentation of the Golden Badge of the Movement is the highest honor the Third Reich has to offer.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist

The very necessity of bringing our armament up to a certain level as rapidly as possible must place in the foreground the idea of as large returns as possible in foreign exchange and therewith the greatest possible assurance of raw material supplies, through exporting.

Hjalmar Schacht

German politician and economist