For they (capitalists) hold as their chief heresy, in a…
“For they (capitalists) hold as their chief heresy, in a coarser form, the fundamental falsehood that things are not made to be used but made to be sold. All the collapse of their commercial system in their own time has been due to that fallacy of forcing things on a market where there was no market; of continually increasing the power of supply without increasing the power of demand; of briefly, of always considering the man who sells the potato and never considering the man who eats it.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Capitalists mistakenly view everything as a commodity, ignoring the natural purpose of use, leading to market failures and social harm.
In simple terms: Treating all things as items to sell creates imbalance.
Key Takeaway
Consider the true purpose of things before selling.
Themes
economics
ethics
capitalism
purpose
market
failure
Mood
critical
analytical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
economic
social
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- policy making
- social activism
- education
Key Concepts
commodity fetishism
misallocation
demand-supply imbalance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance profit with purpose?
- What alternatives exist to pure market exchange?
A Different Perspective
The critique may not account for innovation driven by market incentives.