--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist…" description: "\"Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made man who accepts objective reality and then fashions it to his needs through the work ethic, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/carlos-fuentes-1696_accepting_robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-her_1662563.jpg" --- # Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made… ![“Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made man who accepts objective reality and then fashions it to his needs through the work ethic, common sense, resilience, technology, and, if need be, racism and imperialism.” quote by Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/carlos-fuentes-1696_accepting_robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-her_1662563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/carlos-fuentes-1696_accepting_robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-her_1662563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/carlos-fuentes-1696_accepting_robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-her_1662563.jpg) > “Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made man who accepts objective reality and then fashions it to his needs through the work ethic, common sense, resilience, technology, and, if need be, racism and imperialism.” [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The analysis portrays Robinson Crusoe as an archetype of capitalist ideology, embodying self‑reliance, technology, and also darker aspects like racism and imperialism. **In simple terms:** Crusoe exemplifies capitalist virtues and vices. Key Takeaway Critically assess heroic narratives in economics. Themes capitalism heroism colonialism Mood critical analytical Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - academic essay - cultural analysis - political discourse Key Concepts economic theory literary critique Questions to Reflect On - How does Crusoe reflect modern capitalism? - What ethical limits exist in self‑made narratives? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex literary character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Capitalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalist/) [Capitalist Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalist-hero-774361/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Crusoe Capitalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crusoe-capitalist-774360/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Imperialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperialism/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Resilience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilience/) [Robinson crusoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robinson-crusoe/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-made/) [Self made man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-made-man/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) ## Related quotes > [There is no such thing as a "self-made" man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matthew-adams/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-self-made-man-we-are-made-up-of-thousands/) [George Matthew Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matthew-adams/) > [There is a great deal of strength in Garfield's life and struggles as a self-made man… From poverty and obscurity, by labor at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/there-is-a-great-deal-of-strength-in-garfield-s-life-and-struggles-as/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [I always thought Christians were the weak people. When you can't make it in life then you have to ask God. I really prided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henderson/i-always-thought-christians-were-the-weak-people-when-you-can-t-make/) [Paul Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henderson/) > [The American cultural ideal of the self-made man, of everyone standing on his own feet, is as tragic a picture as the initiative –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-lewin/the-american-cultural-ideal-of-the-self-made-man-of-everyone-standing/) [Kurt Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-lewin/) > [The man who will get up will be helped up; and the man who will not get up will be allowed to stay down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/the-man-who-will-get-up-will-be-helped-up-and-the-man-who-will-not/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [A self-made man may prefer a self-made name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/a-self-made-man-may-prefer-a-self-made-name/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [When did it become something of shame or ridicule to be a self-made man in America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/when-did-it-become-something-of-shame-or-ridicule-to-be-a-self-made/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [My especial object is to help the poor; the rich can help themselves. I believe in self-made men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/my-especial-object-is-to-help-the-poor-the-rich-can-help-themselves-i/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [My father started with nothing and is a self-made man. No matter what I do with my life, I can never match his accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ecclestone/my-father-started-with-nothing-and-is-a-self-made-man-no-matter-what/) [Tamara Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ecclestone/) > [Self-Made Men are the men who owe little or nothing to birth, relationship, friendly surroundings; to wealth inherited or to early approved means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/self-made-men-are-the-men-who-owe-little-or-nothing-to-birth/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Self-Made Men are those who owe little or nothing to birth, relationship, or friendly surroundings; to wealth inherited or to early approved means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/self-made-men-are-those-who-owe-little-or-nothing-to-birth/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [The most famous self-made man in the world today is our own Edison. Talk with Mr. Edison and he will tell you he owes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-most-famous-self-made-man-in-the-world-today-is-our-own-edison/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Fortune may crowd a man's life with fortunate circumstances and happy opportunities, but they will, as we all know, avail him nothing unless he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/fortune-may-crowd-a-man-s-life-with-fortunate-circumstances-and-happy/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men often worship their creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/self-made-men-often-worship-their-creator/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) ## More by Carlos Fuentes > [No, it's not that they're bad. It's that they're obliged to pretend they're good. They've been brought up to deceive and be cunning, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/no-it-s-not-that-they-re-bad-it-s-that-they-re-obliged-to-pretend/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [Contrary to the macho culture of Mexico, both my grandmothers were very brave young widows. I was always very close to these hard-working, intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/contrary-to-the-macho-culture-of-mexico-both-my-grandmothers-were/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [The contract between the author and the reader is a game. And the game . . . is one of the greatest invetions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/the-contract-between-the-author-and-the-reader-is-a-game-and-the-game/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [Love can isolate us from everything around us. But in its absence, we can be filled with the fear that something comparable exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/love-can-isolate-us-from-everything-around-us-but-in-its-absence-we/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [You start by writing to live. You end by writing so as not to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/you-start-by-writing-to-live-you-end-by-writing-so-as-not-to-die/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [“Because it’s a fucking disaster to be creative when you know you’re not Mozart or Keats. Dammit, I got tired of scratching around in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/because-it-s-a-fucking-disaster-to-be-creative-when-you-know-you-re/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [In the name of certainty, the greatest crimes have been committed against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/in-the-name-of-certainty-the-greatest-crimes-have-been-committed/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [Mexico is a very complex, mysterious country. I will never understand it fully, and that's why I write so much about it, in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/mexico-is-a-very-complex-mysterious-country-i-will-never-understand/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [chaos: it has no plural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/chaos-it-has-no-plural/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [“Sólo el imbécil no duda. Sólo el idiota no sufre".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/s-lo-el-imb-cil-no-duda-s-lo-el-idiota-no-sufre/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [I have no literary fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/i-have-no-literary-fears/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [“You will have given another moment to the moment you are living and to the moments you are going to live; you have perverted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/you-will-have-given-another-moment-to-the-moment-you-are-living-and/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [I am a Mexican. The United States lived seventy-five years with the one party system in Mexico - the PRI - without batting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/i-am-a-mexican-the-united-states-lived-seventy-five-years-with-the/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [“It is true that every mountain has four faces, and one tends to know but one. ― Carlos Fuentes, Terra Nostra”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/it-is-true-that-every-mountain-has-four-faces-and-one-tends-to-know/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [To read and write is a paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/to-read-and-write-is-a-paradise/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) [Explore all 134 Carlos Fuentes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made man who accepts objective reality and then fashions it to his needs through the work ethic, common sense, resilience, technology, and, if need be, racism and imperialism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carlos Fuentes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-hero-is-a-self-made-man-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-hero-is-a-self-made-man-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/carlos-fuentes-1696_accepting_robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-her_1662563.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/carlos-fuentes-1696_accepting_robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-her_1662563.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/carlos-fuentes-1696_accepting_robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-her_1662563.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made man who accepts objective reality and then…” — Carlos Fuentes", "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": "Carlos Fuentes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-hero-is-a-self-made-man-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/robinson-crusoe-the-first-capitalist-hero-is-a-self-made-man-who/#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 } } ] } ```