--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The obsession with gold, actually and…" description: "\"The obsession with gold, actually and politically, occurs among those who regard economics as a branch of morality. Gold is solid, gold is durable, gol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/christopher-hitchens-117_believe_the-obsession-with-gold-actually-and-pol_2248824.jpg" --- # The obsession with gold, actually and politically, occurs… ![“The obsession with gold, actually and politically, occurs among those who regard economics as a branch of morality. Gold is solid, gold is durable, gold is rare, gold is even (in certain very peculiar circumstances) convertible. To believe in thrift, solidity and soundness is to believe in some…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/christopher-hitchens-117_believe_the-obsession-with-gold-actually-and-pol_2248824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/christopher-hitchens-117_believe_the-obsession-with-gold-actually-and-pol_2248824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/christopher-hitchens-117_believe_the-obsession-with-gold-actually-and-pol_2248824.jpg) > “The obsession with gold, actually and politically, occurs among those who regard economics as a branch of morality. Gold is solid, gold is durable, gold is rare, gold is even (in certain very peculiar circumstances) convertible. To believe in thrift, solidity and soundness is to believe in some way in the properties of gold.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that treating economics like morality leads to misplaced reverence for gold, a symbol of stability and rarity. **In simple terms:** Equating economics with morality makes gold seem morally superior. Key Takeaway Question the moral framing of economic values. Themes economics morality gold value politics Mood critical analytical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - investment decisions - policy debates - personal finance - ethical consumption Key Concepts materialism symbolism ethical relativism Questions to Reflect On - How does moral language affect economic choices? - Can we separate value from symbolism? A Different Perspective Gold’s appeal may be cultural, not intrinsic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Durable Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/durable-gold-5128259/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-actually-3308063/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-gold-3219423/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Obsession Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession-gold-5128261/) [Peculiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peculiar/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Regard Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard-economics-5128260/) [Solidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solidity/) [Soundness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soundness/) [Thrift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrift/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Gold actually has properties - you can use gold for all sorts of things. 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