Energy efficiency Quote by George Orwell
““In practice nobody cares if work is useful or useless, productive or parasitic; the sole thing demanded is that it shall be profitable. In all the modern talk about energy, efficiency, social service and the rest of it, what meaning is there except " Get money, get it legally, and get a lot of it"? Money has become the grand test of virtue. By this test beggars fail, and for this they are despised.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Politics and the English Language, 1946
The quote critiques how profit motives dominate judgments of value, reducing moral worth to financial success and marginalizing those who lack wealth.
In simple terms: Profit replaces moral judgment; the poor are judged harshly.
Key Takeaway
Recognize value beyond money.
Themes
capitalism
ethics
social inequality
materialism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- business decisions
- policy making
- personal finance
- social welfare
- philanthropy
Key Concepts
moral relativism
economic critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we value work that isn’t profitable?
- What alternatives to profit‑centric metrics exist?
A Different Perspective
It ignores non‑monetary contributions that enrich society.
