Activity Quote by Cornel West
“We have a market-driven society so obsessed with buying and selling and obsessed with power and pleasure and property, it doesn't leave a whole lot of time for non-market values and non-market activity so that love and trust and justice, concern for the poor, that's being pushed to the margins, and you can see it.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Harvard University, 2019
He critiques how market dominance marginalizes moral values like love, trust, and justice, reducing societal focus on profit.
In simple terms: Market focus pushes out moral concerns.
Key Takeaway
Balance economic goals with ethical responsibilities.
Themes
economics
ethics
social justice
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- community organizing
- academic courses
Key Concepts
critical theory
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we reintegrate non‑market values?
- What policies protect love and trust?
A Different Perspective
Economic growth may conflict with ethics.
![“You can't really move forward until you look back. [From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University]” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/273/cornel-west-708_george-w_you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you_37313.jpg)
