The terrible, cold, cruel part is Wall Street. Rivers of…
“The terrible, cold, cruel part is Wall Street. Rivers of gold flow there from all over the earth, and death comes with it. There, as nowhere else, you feel a total absence of the spirit: herds of men who cannot count past three, herds more who cannot get past six, scorn for pure science and demoniacal respect for the present. And the terrible thing is that the crowd that fills the street believes that the world will always be the same and that it is their duty to keep that huge machine running, day and night, forever.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Wall Street is portrayed as a cold, greedy machine lacking humanity and true spirit.
In simple terms: Capitalism can be dehumanizing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance material pursuits.
Themes
greed
dehumanization
capitalism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
social
When to use this quote
- financial careers
- investment decisions
- policy debates
Key Concepts
sociology
ethics
economics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we inject humanity into finance?
- What values should guide economic systems?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may overlook practical necessities.