The Federal Reserve may sell a bond or two in the coming months, but Ben or Jan
or Big Lar can be trusted to inflate. The professors know no other course:
Johann Peter Eckermann's conversation with Goethe, February 1,
1827:
"We talked about the professors who, after they had found a
better theory, still [ignored it: a very loose consolidation - FJS] 'This is
not to be wondered at,' said Goethe; 'such people continue in error because
they are indebted to it for their existence. They would have to learn
everything over again, and that would be very inconvenient.' 'But, said I, 'how
can their experiments prove the truth when the basis for their evaluation is
false?' 'They do not prove the truth,' said Goethe, 'nor is such the
intention; the only point with these professors is to prove their own opinion.
On this account, they conceal all experiments that would reveal the truth and
show their doctrine untenable. Then the scholars - what do they care for truth?
They, like the rest, are perfectly satisfied if they can prate away
empirically; that is the whole matter.'"