Boast Quote by George Bernard Shaw
“Capitalism drives the employers to do their worst to the employed, and the employed to do the least for them. And it boasts all the time of the incentive it provides to both to do their best! . . . The reason the Capitalist system has worked so far without jamming for more than a few months at a time, and then only in places, is that it has not yet succeeded in making a conquest of human nature so complete that everybody acts on strictly business principles.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Man and Superman, 1903
Capitalism creates a cycle where employers exploit workers while workers minimize effort, yet the system persists because it never fully reshapes human nature.
In simple terms: Capitalism fuels exploitation and complacency.
Key Takeaway
Recognize incentives and their limits.
Themes
economics
human nature
incentives
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- business negotiations
- policy debates
- personal career choices
Key Concepts
capitalist critique
motivation
ethical dilemmas
Questions to Reflect On
- Are incentives always effective?
- What reforms could align business with humanity?
A Different Perspective
The system’s survival depends on human flaws.
