Robert L. Bradley, Jr. on the source of natural resources

Economists like Julian Simon argue that as long as people are free to use their minds and act upon their ideas, the world will never run out of energy. Resources spring from knowledge, not from the ground.

~ Robert L. Bradley, Jr., Institute for Energy Research, Energy: The Master Resource

Julian Simon: Are natural resources finite?

Our supplies of natural resources are not finite in any economic sense. Nor does past experience give reason to expect natural resources to become more scarce. Rather, if history is any guide, natural resources will progressively become less costly, hence less scarce, and will constitute a smaller proportion of our expenses in future years.

~ Julian Simon, The Ultimate Resource (1996)

Julian Simon on wealth creation

Not understanding the process of a spontaneously-ordered economy goes hand-in-hand with not understanding the creation of resources and wealth.  And when a person does not understand the creation of resources and wealth, the only intellectual alternative is to believe that increasing wealth must be at the cost of someone else.  This belief that our good fortune must be an exploitation of others may be the taproot of false prophecy about doom that our evil ways must bring upon us.

~ Julian Simon