--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's this de facto assumption that for…" description: "\"There's this de facto assumption that for something to have value, it has to be economically self-supporting - which imposes a very low ceiling on a cu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/george-saunders-317_assumption_there-s-this-de-facto-assumption-that-fo_2452808.jpg" --- # There's this de facto assumption that for something to… ![“There's this de facto assumption that for something to have value, it has to be economically self-supporting - which imposes a very low ceiling on a culture.” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/george-saunders-317_assumption_there-s-this-de-facto-assumption-that-fo_2452808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/george-saunders-317_assumption_there-s-this-de-facto-assumption-that-fo_2452808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/george-saunders-317_assumption_there-s-this-de-facto-assumption-that-fo_2452808.jpg) > “There's this de facto assumption that for something to have value, it has to be economically self-supporting - which imposes a very low ceiling on a culture.” [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It argues that equating value with economic self-sufficiency limits cultural ambition and diversity. **In simple terms:** Economic self‑sufficiency limits cultural ambition. Key Takeaway Reevaluate how we define value beyond profit. Themes culture economics creativity valuation limitations Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - Arts funding - non‑profit initiatives - community projects - alternative education - policy making Key Concepts Cultural economics value theory social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can we recognize value that isn’t monetary? - What policies could support non‑economic cultural growth? 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