Capitalism Quote by Dennis Prager
“Yet, while producing increasingly selfish people, the mantra of the Left, and therefore of the universities and the media, has been for generations that capitalism and the free market, not the welfare state, produces selfish people.”
About This Quote
Source Opinion Column: "The Left’s Selfishness Myth" by Dennis Prager, 2020
The claim that capitalism inherently creates selfishness is contested; societal values shape behavior more than economic systems.
In simple terms: Capitalism isn’t the sole cause of selfishness.
Key Takeaway
Consider broader influences on behavior.
Themes
economics
ethics
society
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education policy
- media analysis
- workplace culture
- public discourse
Key Concepts
behavioral economics
cultural influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors beyond economics shape selfishness?
- Can markets coexist with communal values?
A Different Perspective
Individual responsibility also matters; not all capitalist societies are selfish.
![“If they [liberals] didn't believe we were mean spirited they couldn't stay liberal. They have to believe they mean better than us, but we don't have to believe that we mean better than them. We have to believe that we do better than them. We measure morality by what happens not what is intended.” quote by Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/95d/dennis-prager-631_believe_if-they-liberals-didn-t-believe-we-were_111894.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
