Marx was (perhaps) globally wrong (but locally right); Hayek was mildly right all the way. But Marx, when right, had huge insights; e.g. Chapter 14 of Das Capital I on the Division of Labor and its dismemberment of humans. Immense erudition: he moves from Xenophon to obscure German writers. Hayek’s writing is indigestibly dull (and according to J.G. he was dull in person), Marx is lively, rich, and gripping. Compare the looks of the two fellows.
Who would you like to have dinner with?
The Thales Episode (Ch 3): I would say the main benefit of being rich (over being just independent) is to be able to despise rich people (a good concentration of whom you find in glitzy ski resorts) without any “sour grapes”. It is even sweeter when they don’t know that you are much richer than they are.
It’s much better to mistake a stone for a bear, than a bear for a stone.
Antiflaneur. There is a smell of bildungsphilister in ski resorts, particularly the ones for the rich. Everything is fake, fake, people are opulent, philisitinic, etc. Too painful, fits of rage, etc. Left a day early to take refuge & lock myself up in my library for 8 days, with walks in NY (nonfake). Then Wales (nonfake) where I am promised Lebanese wine.
(interestingly he was wrong, but that’s not the point).