My feelings about Das Kapital are the same as my feelings…
““My feelings about Das Kapital are the same as my feelings about the Koran. I know that it is historically important and I know that many people, not all of whom are idiots, find it a sort of Rock of Ages and containing inspiration. Yet when I look into it, it is to me inexplicable that it can have this effect. Its dreary, out-of-date, academic controversialising seems so extraordinarily unsuitable as material for the purpose … How could either of these books carry fire and sword round half the world? It beats me. [writing to George Bernard Shaw]””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Keynes finds both Das Kapital and the Koran historically important yet emotionally distant, questioning their universal appeal.
In simple terms: He sees them as important but not personally moving.
Key Takeaway
Question why some works inspire fervor while others feel stale.
Themes
economics
religion
culture
interpretation
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- interfaith dialogue
- public lectures
- personal reading
Key Concepts
historical significance
emotional resonance
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a text feel timeless?
- Can context change its relevance?
A Different Perspective
Personal bias may color his perception of impact.