Business Quote by Ben Cohen
“Business is the most powerful force in society. It has the highest potential for solving social problems. Once consumers saw examples of prosperous companies integrating social concerns into their business practices, they were emboldened to demand the same of other businesses. Businesses could no longer say it was impossible.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Social Enterprise Forum, 2015
Business can drive social change when consumers demand responsible practices, making it impossible for companies to ignore impact.
In simple terms: Business can solve social problems.
Key Takeaway
Leverage consumer demand.
Themes
social impact
business
consumer power
Mood
inspirational
pragmatic
Type
ethical
strategic
When to use this quote
- product development
- marketing strategy
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
corporate social responsibility
social entrepreneurship
Questions to Reflect On
- How can businesses sustain impact without profit loss?
- What role do regulators play?
A Different Perspective
Consumer pressure may be uneven across markets.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)