Believe this, young man," exclaimed Shelgrim, layinga…
““Believe this, young man," exclaimed Shelgrim, layinga thick powerful forefinger on the table to emphasize his words, "try to believe this - to begin with - that railroads build themselves . Where there is a demand sooner or later there will be a supply. Mr. Derrick, does he grow his wheat? The Wheat grows itself. What does he count for? Does he supply the force? What do I count for? Do I build the Railroad? You are dealing with forces, young man, when you speak of Wheat and the Railroads, not with men. There is the Wheat, the supply. It must be carried to feed the People. There is the demand. The Wheat is one force, the Railroad, another, and there is the law that governs them - supply and demand. Men have only little to do in the whole business. Complications may arise, conditions that bear hard on the individual - crush him maybe - but the Wheat will be carried to feed the people as inevitably as it will grow. If you want to fasten the blame of the affair at Los Muertos on any one person, you will make a mistake. Blame conditions, not men.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote illustrates that market forces like supply and demand drive outcomes more than individual actions, and that blaming people for systemic issues is misguided.
In simple terms: Economic forces outweigh personal control.
Key Takeaway
Focus on systemic solutions, not scapegoating.
Themes
economics
systemic thinking
responsibility
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- policy making
- personal decision making
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
Supply and demand
determinism
blame culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals influence systemic forces?
- When is personal responsibility appropriate?
A Different Perspective
It oversimplifies complex social dynamics by ignoring human agency.