If one takes pleasure in calling the gold standard a…
“If one takes pleasure in calling the gold standard a "barbarous relic," one cannot object to the application of the same term to every historically determined institution. Then the fact that the British speak English - and not Danish, German, or French - is a barbarous relic too, and every Briton who opposes the substitution of Esperanto for English is no less dogmatic and orthodox than those who do not wax rapturous about the plans for a managed currency.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Criticizing the dismissal of long‑standing institutions as outdated, the quote argues that such disdain is equally applicable to language and currency systems, exposing a bias toward novelty over tradition.
In simple terms: Calling old institutions “relics” is a double standard applied to language and money.
Key Takeaway
Question the consistency of your critiques.
Themes
tradition
bias
language
currency
institutional critique
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- language reform
- currency reform
- academic discussion
Key Concepts
Economic philosophy
cultural relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you treat all traditions the same way?
- What criteria should decide when a relic is replaced?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes all institutions are equally comparable, ignoring functional differences.