Like all fundamentalists who get their clammy hands on the…
““Like all fundamentalists who get their clammy hands on the levers of power, the market fanatics are going to kill off every humane, life-enhancing, generous, imaginative and decent corner of our public life… Market fundamentalism, this madness that's infected the human race, is like a greedy ghost that haunts the boardrooms and council chambers and committee rooms from which the world is run these days. The greedy ghost understands profit all right. But that's all. What he doesn't understand is enterprises that don't make a profit, because they're set up to do something different. He doesn't understand libraries at all…””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Market-driven greed ignores non‑profit values, threatening cultural and humanitarian institutions.
In simple terms: Profit focus harms public good.
Key Takeaway
Support non‑profit missions.
Themes
economics
ethics
culture
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- library funding
- non‑profit advocacy
- policy reform
Key Concepts
market fundamentalism
public good
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance profit and purpose?
- What policies protect non‑profit work?
A Different Perspective
Profit motives can also fund positive change if redirected.