---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is…"
description: "\"Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is capitalism that ended the stranglehold of the hereditary aristocracies, raised the standard of living for most..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/camille-paglia-652_aristocracy_capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is_757815.png"
---

#  Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is capitalism that…

![“Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is capitalism that ended the stranglehold of the hereditary aristocracies, raised the standard of living for most of the world and enabled the emancipation of women.” quote by Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/camille-paglia-652_aristocracy_capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is_757815.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/camille-paglia-652_aristocracy_capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is_757815.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/camille-paglia-652_aristocracy_capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is_757815.png)

> “Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is capitalism that ended the stranglehold of the hereditary aristocracies, raised the standard of living for most of the world and enabled the emancipation of women.”

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Capitalism, despite flaws, broke aristocratic dominance, raised living standards, and freed women.

**In simple terms:** Capitalism ended aristocracy, improved lives, and empowered women despite its flaws.

Key Takeaway

Recognize capitalism’s complex impact.

Themes

economics social change gender equality

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- economic reforms
- women’s rights movements
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

capitalist theory historical progress

Questions to Reflect On

- What reforms can balance benefits and harms?
- How does capitalism affect different groups?

A Different Perspective

Capitalism also creates inequality and exploitation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Emancipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emancipation/) [Standards of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-of-living/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Addressing the weaknesses of capitalism will require us, above all, to do two things: first, to take a long-term perspective, and second, to re-set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/addressing-the-weaknesses-of-capitalism-will-require-us-above-all-to/)

[Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/)

> [“He did not see that the continuity of an oligarchy need not be physical, nor did he pause to reflect that hereditary aristocracies have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/he-did-not-see-that-the-continuity-of-an-oligarchy-need-not-be/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [The steward, according to custom, had stopped all the clocks. This, in the language of Narouz, said "Your stay with us is so brief,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/the-steward-according-to-custom-had-stopped-all-the-clocks-this-in/)

[Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/)

> [If Julian had flattered himself that his personal connexion with the capital of the East would be productive of mutual satisfaction to the prince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-julian-had-flattered-himself-that-his-personal-connexion-with-the/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [An hereditary aristocracy... will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-hereditary-aristocracy-will-change-the-form-of-our-governments/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [I call that mind free which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no man master, which does not content itself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/i-call-that-mind-free-which-jealously-guards-its-intellectual-rights/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [The child was diseased at birth, stricken with a hereditary ill that only the most vital men are able to shake off. I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/the-child-was-diseased-at-birth-stricken-with-a-hereditary-ill-that/)

[Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/)

> [ \[I\]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-n-great-britain-it-is-said-that-their-constitution-relies-on-the/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [A lack of the historical sense is the hereditary fault of all philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-lack-of-the-historical-sense-is-the-hereditary-fault-of-all/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [I believe I understand anti-Semitism which is a very complex movement. I see it as a Jew, but without hatred or fear. I recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/i-believe-i-understand-anti-semitism-which-is-a-very-complex-movement/)

[Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/)

> [“Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moons-of-saturn-and-take-high/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> ['Hereditary' is unabashedly a horror film. In a lot of ways, it's in dialogue with other horror films. But I do know that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/hereditary-is-unabashedly-a-horror-film-in-a-lot-of-ways-it-s-in/)

[Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/)

> [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/)

[Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/)

> [The major cause for American Negroes intellectual and social deficits is hereditary and racially genetic in origin and thus not remedial to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shockley/the-major-cause-for-american-negroes-intellectual-and-social-deficits/)

[William Shockley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shockley/)

> [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

## More by Camille Paglia

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [Once you have become the centre of a conflict in a complex governmental enterprise you have the obligation to resign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/once-you-have-become-the-centre-of-a-conflict-in-a-complex/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I believe that government should confine itself to the public realm and that it should be as stripped down as possible, within reason. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-believe-that-government-should-confine-itself-to-the-public-realm/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I'm a professor of media studies as well as humanities, and I'm an evangelist of popular culture, but when there's only media, then there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-m-a-professor-of-media-studies-as-well-as-humanities-and-i-m-an/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [My stress on the truth in sexual stereotypes and on the biologic basis of sex differences is sure to cause controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/my-stress-on-the-truth-in-sexual-stereotypes-and-on-the-biologic/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [Are we like late Rome, infatuated with past glories, ruled by a complacent, greedy elite, and hopelessly powerless to respond to changing conditions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/are-we-like-late-rome-infatuated-with-past-glories-ruled-by-a/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [Effeminate men have suffered a bad press the world over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/effeminate-men-have-suffered-a-bad-press-the-world-over/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [In the theory of gender I began from zero. There is no masculine power or privilege I did not covet. But slowly, step by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/in-the-theory-of-gender-i-began-from-zero-there-is-no-masculine-power/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I respect the astute and rigorously unsentimental David Horowitz as one of America's most original and courageous political analysts. He has the true 1960s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-respect-the-astute-and-rigorously-unsentimental-david-horowitz-as/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [The followers of Derrida are pathetic, snuffling in French pockets for bits of pieces of a deconstructive method already massively and coherently presented and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-followers-of-derrida-are-pathetic-snuffling-in-french-pockets-for/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [Gay men are guardians of the masculine impulse. To have anonymous sex in a dark alleyway is to pay homage to the dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/gay-men-are-guardians-of-the-masculine-impulse-to-have-anonymous-sex/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [Lesbian feminists, for all their ideals of sisterhood and solidarity, can treat each other with a fickleness, a parasitic exploitativeness, and vicious spite that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/lesbian-feminists-for-all-their-ideals-of-sisterhood-and-solidarity/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [There is no true expertise in the humanities without knowing all of the humanities. Art is a vast, ancient interconnected web-work, a fabricated tradition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/there-is-no-true-expertise-in-the-humanities-without-knowing-all-of/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

[Explore all 427 Camille Paglia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

## More Aristocracy quotes

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/)

[E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/)

> [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/)

[Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/)

> [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/)

[Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/)

> [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/)

[Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/)

> [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/)

[Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/)

> [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/)

[Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/)

> [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/)

[George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/)

[Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is capitalism that ended the stranglehold of the hereditary aristocracies, raised the standard of living for most of the world and enabled the emancipation of women.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Camille Paglia"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is-capitalism-that-ended-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Aristocracy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is-capitalism-that-ended-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/camille-paglia-652_aristocracy_capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is_757815.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/camille-paglia-652_aristocracy_capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is_757815.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/camille-paglia-652_aristocracy_capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is_757815.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is capitalism that ended the stranglehold of the hereditary…” — Camille Paglia",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Camille Paglia",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is-capitalism-that-ended-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/capitalism-has-its-weaknesses-but-it-is-capitalism-that-ended-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
