Business Quote by Eric Hoffer
““Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and turns into a racket.””
About This Quote
Movements start with idealism, become commercialized, and eventually corrupt into profit-driven enterprises.
In simple terms: Idealistic movements can become corrupt.
Key Takeaway
Guard against profit motives.
Themes
politics
economics
social movements
corruption
commercialization
Mood
cautionary
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- entrepreneurship
- nonprofit management
- policy making
Key Concepts
sociology
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- When does a movement lose its original purpose?
- How can integrity be maintained during growth?
A Different Perspective
Not all movements follow this trajectory.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)