It is irrelevant to the entrepreneur, as the servant of…
““It is irrelevant to the entrepreneur, as the servant of the consumers, whether the wishes and wants of the consumers are wise or unwise, moral or immoral. He produces what the consumers want. In this sense he is amoral. He manufactures whiskey and guns just as he produces food and clothing. It is not his task to teach reason to the sovereign consumers. Should one entrepreneur, for ethical reasons of his own, refuse to manufacture whiskey, other entrepreneurs would do so as long as whiskey is wanted and bought. It is not because we have distilleries that people drink whiskey; it is because people like to drink whiskey that we have distilleries. One may deplore this. But it is not up to the entrepreneurs to improve mankind morally. And they are not to be blamed if those whose duty this is have failed to do so.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Entrepreneurs serve consumer demand without moral judgment; they provide whatever people desire, regardless of its ethical implications.
In simple terms: Business follows consumer wants, not moral standards.
Key Takeaway
Accept market demand, but consider personal ethics.
Themes
economics
morality
entrepreneurship
consumer sovereignty
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- product development
- policy debate
- consumer education
- corporate social responsibility
Key Concepts
subjectivism
market mechanisms
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- Should businesses limit harmful products despite demand?
- How does personal morality intersect with market provision?
A Different Perspective
Entrepreneurs may face reputational risk if products are socially harmful.