In prior years Hayek had served as the arbitrator between divergent groups within the society; as both economist and po liti cal phi los o pher, freemarket advocate and social traditionalist, oldworld Eu ro pe an and émigré American, he could speak the languages of members who at times perceived one another as alien. But now he was a party to the dispute, and therefore was unable to bring it to a mutually satisfactory close.

Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, loc. 342