---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For society, the Internet is wonderful…"
description: "\"For society, the Internet is wonderful, but for capitalists, it will be a net negative. It will increase efficiency, but lots of things increase effici..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/424/charlie-munger-458_american-business_for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-bu_500534.jpg"
---

#  For society, the Internet is wonderful, but for…

![“For society, the Internet is wonderful, but for capitalists, it will be a net negative. It will increase efficiency, but lots of things increase efficiency without increasing profits. It is way more likely to make American businesses less profitable than more profitable. This is perfectly obvious…” quote by Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/424/charlie-munger-458_american-business_for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-bu_500534.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/424/charlie-munger-458_american-business_for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-bu_500534.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/424/charlie-munger-458_american-business_for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-bu_500534.jpg)

> “For society, the Internet is wonderful, but for capitalists, it will be a net negative. It will increase efficiency, but lots of things increase efficiency without increasing profits. It is way more likely to make American businesses less profitable than more profitable. This is perfectly obvious, but very little understood.”

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

## 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 argues that while the Internet boosts efficiency, it often reduces profits for capitalists, making it a net negative for businesses.

**In simple terms:** Internet improves efficiency but may hurt profits.

Key Takeaway

Assess efficiency gains versus profit impact.

Themes

economics technology capitalism efficiency

Mood

analytical critical

Type

economic business

When to use this quote

- business planning
- investment decisions
- policy analysis

Key Concepts

profitability digital disruption business strategy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can firms adapt to efficiency gains without profit loss?
- What models turn efficiency into profit?

A Different Perspective

Efficiency does not always translate to higher earnings.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-business/) [Capitalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalists/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profits/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/)

## Related quotes

> [The penetration of society by the Internet and the penetration of the Internet by society is the best thing that has ever happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/the-penetration-of-society-by-the-internet-and-the-penetration-of-the/)

[Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/)

> [The guiding principle is not to manufacture the goods everyone needs, rather to earn profits for a few capitalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-ulbricht/the-guiding-principle-is-not-to-manufacture-the-goods-everyone-needs/)

[Walter Ulbricht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-ulbricht/)

> [“A system is corrupt when it is strictly profit-driven, not driven to serve the best interests of its people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/a-system-is-corrupt-when-it-is-strictly-profit-driven-not-driven-to/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [Every time you have a new tax, or every time you have to pay really an inordinate amount for a regulation, it's really stifling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-raese/every-time-you-have-a-new-tax-or-every-time-you-have-to-pay-really-an/)

[John Raese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-raese/)

> [We are seeing some challenges and some changes in American business, American enterprise, but the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is a reminder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-are-seeing-some-challenges-and-some-changes-in-american-business/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [American businesses are looking for are certainty and executive orders don't really get them that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/american-businesses-are-looking-for-are-certainty-and-executive/)

[Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/)

> [“Many people object to “wasting money in space” yet have no idea how much is actually spent on space exploration. The CSA’s budget, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/many-people-object-to-wasting-money-in-space-yet-have-no-idea-how/)

[Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/)

> [I understand that in these difficult economic times, the potential for any additional expense is not welcomed by American businesses. But in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-locke/i-understand-that-in-these-difficult-economic-times-the-potential-for/)

[Gary Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-locke/)

> [I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-insist-on-a-lot-of-time-being-spent-almost-every-day-to-just-sit/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [By all indications, American business leaders are more adept at creating business strategies than they are skilled at human capital management. American entrepreneurs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/by-all-indications-american-business-leaders-are-more-adept-at/)

[James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/)

> [My overall goal is to level the playing field for American businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/my-overall-goal-is-to-level-the-playing-field-for-american-businesses/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We want to be able to do business in China. I know a lot of American businesses and farmers want to as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-want-to-be-able-to-do-business-in-china-i-know-a-lot-of-american/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [The question really is how do we get Embassy Officers into the minds of the American business community. That is a much more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/the-question-really-is-how-do-we-get-embassy-officers-into-the-minds/)

[Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/)

> [As you are well aware Russia is actively working to undermine our democracy and hurt American businesses at the same time. Now more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-you-are-well-aware-russia-is-actively-working-to-undermine-our/)

[Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/)

> [There is no question of the benefits that opening a market of a billion people will bring to American businesses. But as I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-daley/there-is-no-question-of-the-benefits-that-opening-a-market-of-a/)

[William M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-daley/)

## More by Charlie Munger

> [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [I think time and time again, in reality, psychological notions and economic notions interplay, and the man who doesn't understand both is a damned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-think-time-and-time-again-in-reality-psychological-notions-and/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-have-what-i-call-an-iron-prescription-that-helps-me-keep-sane-when/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [The tax code gives you an enormous advantage if you can find some things you can just sit with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-tax-code-gives-you-an-enormous-advantage-if-you-can-find-some/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [The great lesson in microeconomics is to discriminate between when technology is going to help you and when it's going to kill you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-great-lesson-in-microeconomics-is-to-discriminate-between-when/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Some years ago one oil company bought a fertilizer company, and every other major oil company practically ran out and bought a fertilizer company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/some-years-ago-one-oil-company-bought-a-fertilizer-company-and-every/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [ They \[Mc Donalds\] take people and give them a first job, which enables them to get a second job. They do a very good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/they-mc-donalds-take-people-and-give-them-a-first-job-which-enables/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [What good is envy? It’s the one sin you can’t have any fun at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/what-good-is-envy-it-s-the-one-sin-you-can-t-have-any-fun-at/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [We believe that almost all really good investment records will involve relatively little diversification. The basic idea that it was hard to find good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-believe-that-almost-all-really-good-investment-records-will/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [It is way less certain to be a wonderful business in the future. The threat is alternative mediums of information. Every newspaper is scrambling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/it-is-way-less-certain-to-be-a-wonderful-business-in-the-future-the/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [In the corporate world, if you have analysts, due diligence, and no horse sense, you've just described hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/in-the-corporate-world-if-you-have-analysts-due-diligence-and-no/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [We have to have a special insight, or we'll put it in the 'too tough' basket. All of you have to look for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-have-to-have-a-special-insight-or-we-ll-put-it-in-the-too-tough/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [I've heard that one-half of the students at elite schools want to go into private equity or hedge funds. They want to keep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-ve-heard-that-one-half-of-the-students-at-elite-schools-want-to-go/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

[Explore all 544 Charlie Munger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

## More American business quotes

> [There is no question of the benefits that opening a market of a billion people will bring to American businesses. But as I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-daley/there-is-no-question-of-the-benefits-that-opening-a-market-of-a/)

[William M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-daley/)

> [As you are well aware Russia is actively working to undermine our democracy and hurt American businesses at the same time. Now more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-you-are-well-aware-russia-is-actively-working-to-undermine-our/)

[Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/)

> [The question really is how do we get Embassy Officers into the minds of the American business community. That is a much more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/the-question-really-is-how-do-we-get-embassy-officers-into-the-minds/)

[Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/)

> [We want to be able to do business in China. I know a lot of American businesses and farmers want to as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-want-to-be-able-to-do-business-in-china-i-know-a-lot-of-american/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [My overall goal is to level the playing field for American businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/my-overall-goal-is-to-level-the-playing-field-for-american-businesses/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [By all indications, American business leaders are more adept at creating business strategies than they are skilled at human capital management. American entrepreneurs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/by-all-indications-american-business-leaders-are-more-adept-at/)

[James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/)

> [I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-insist-on-a-lot-of-time-being-spent-almost-every-day-to-just-sit/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [I understand that in these difficult economic times, the potential for any additional expense is not welcomed by American businesses. But in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-locke/i-understand-that-in-these-difficult-economic-times-the-potential-for/)

[Gary Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-locke/)

> [“Many people object to “wasting money in space” yet have no idea how much is actually spent on space exploration. The CSA’s budget, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/many-people-object-to-wasting-money-in-space-yet-have-no-idea-how/)

[Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/)

> [American businesses are looking for are certainty and executive orders don't really get them that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/american-businesses-are-looking-for-are-certainty-and-executive/)

[Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/)

> [We are seeing some challenges and some changes in American business, American enterprise, but the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is a reminder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-are-seeing-some-challenges-and-some-changes-in-american-business/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Every time you have a new tax, or every time you have to pay really an inordinate amount for a regulation, it's really stifling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-raese/every-time-you-have-a-new-tax-or-every-time-you-have-to-pay-really-an/)

[John Raese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-raese/)

> [By strengthening our trade laws, we level the playing field for American businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/by-strengthening-our-trade-laws-we-level-the-playing-field-for/)

[Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/)

> [“dramatically, but helium gas was 10 times as expensive. Under these conditions, Dr. Eckener, a pilot whose primary concern was safety and as Director…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-provan/dramatically-but-helium-gas-was-10-times-as-expensive-under-these/)

[John Provan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-provan/)

> [No library of American business achievement is complete without the story of Arthur G. Gaston. . . . Black Titan is a long overdue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-g-graves-sr/no-library-of-american-business-achievement-is-complete-without-the/)

[Earl G. Graves, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-g-graves-sr/)

[Browse all 127 American business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For society, the Internet is wonderful, but for capitalists, it will be a net negative. It will increase efficiency, but lots of things increase efficiency without increasing profits. It is way more likely to make American businesses less profitable than more profitable. This is perfectly obvious, but very little understood.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charlie Munger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-but-for-capitalists-it-will-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "American business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-but-for-capitalists-it-will-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/424/charlie-munger-458_american-business_for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-bu_500534.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/424/charlie-munger-458_american-business_for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-bu_500534.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/424/charlie-munger-458_american-business_for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-bu_500534.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For society, the Internet is wonderful, but for capitalists, it will be a net negative. It will increase…” — Charlie Munger",
                "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": "Charlie Munger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For society, the Internet is wonderful,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-but-for-capitalists-it-will-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/for-society-the-internet-is-wonderful-but-for-capitalists-it-will-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
