Capitalism Quote by Ellen Meiksins Wood
““Capitalism is also incapable of promoting sustainable development, not because it encourages technological advances that are capable of straining the earth's resources but because the purpose of capitalist production is exchange value not use value, profit not people.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Capitalist World-Economy, Ellen Meiksins Wood, 1999
Capitalism prioritizes profit over ecological and human needs, hindering sustainable development.
In simple terms: Profit beats people, harming sustainability.
Key Takeaway
Rethink production goals beyond profit.
Themes
economics
environment
ethics
politics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- business strategy
- environmental activism
- education
- community planning
Key Concepts
exchange value
use value
sustainable development
capitalist critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies shift from exchange value to use value?
- What policies can align profit with sustainability?
A Different Perspective
Profit motives can be redirected with strong regulation and cultural shifts.
![“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)
