One needs but to study the directory of directories of the…
“One needs but to study the directory of directories of the great business concerns of the country to determine the extent to which this combination of combinations has been successfully accomplished, thus carrying us over into the fourth period of our industrial and commercial life...the period of complete industrial and commercial servitude in which we now unhappily find ourselves. And this supreme control of the business of the country is the triumph of men who have at every step defied public opinion, the common law and criminal statutes.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote warns that powerful business conglomerates dominate the economy, creating a servile industrial era controlled by a few who ignore law and public will.
In simple terms: Big companies dominate, limiting freedom and law.
Key Takeaway
Beware concentration of economic power.
Themes
economics
power
law
society
industrialization
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
political
analytical
warning
When to use this quote
- Policy making
- business strategy
- consumer advocacy
- academic research
- legal reform
Key Concepts
Monopoly
regulation
public interest
corporate governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does corporate concentration affect democracy?
- What safeguards can prevent abuse?
A Different Perspective
It may overstate uniform control across all sectors.