--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my view, philanthropy goes against the…" description: "\"“In my view, philanthropy goes against the grain; therefore it generates a lot of hypocrisy and many paradoxes. Here are some examples: Philanthropy is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/george-soros-1593_generosity_in-my-view-philanthropy-goes-against-the_1428539.jpg" --- # In my view, philanthropy goes against the grain; therefore… ![“In my view, philanthropy goes against the grain; therefore it generates a lot of hypocrisy and many paradoxes. Here are some examples: Philanthropy is supposed to be devoted to the benefit of others, but philanthropists are primarily concerned with their own benefit; philanthropy is supposed to…” quote by George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/george-soros-1593_generosity_in-my-view-philanthropy-goes-against-the_1428539.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/george-soros-1593_generosity_in-my-view-philanthropy-goes-against-the_1428539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/george-soros-1593_generosity_in-my-view-philanthropy-goes-against-the_1428539.jpg) > ““In my view, philanthropy goes against the grain; therefore it generates a lot of hypocrisy and many paradoxes. Here are some examples: Philanthropy is supposed to be devoted to the benefit of others, but philanthropists are primarily concerned with their own benefit; philanthropy is supposed to help people, yet it often makes people dependent and turns them into objects of charity; applicants tell foundations what they want to hear, then proceed to do what the applicant wants to do.”” [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philanthropy often masks self‑interest, creating dependency and superficial compliance, leading to hypocrisy and paradoxes. **In simple terms:** Charity can become self‑serving and create reliance. Key Takeaway Question motives, avoid dependency. Themes philanthropy ethics power dynamics hypocrisy dependency Mood critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - grantmaking - nonprofit leadership - policy advocacy - personal reflection Key Concepts self‑interest dependency social capital Questions to Reflect On - How can donors ensure genuine impact? - What structures reduce dependency? A Different Perspective Philanthropy may reinforce inequality if not critically examined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [Philanthropists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropists/) [Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy/) ## Related quotes > [He is one of those wise philanthropists who, in a time of famine, would vote for nothing but a supply of toothpicks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/he-is-one-of-those-wise-philanthropists-who-in-a-time-of-famine-would/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [“Through their donations and work for voluntary organizations, the charitable rich exert enormous influence in society. As philanthropists, they acquire status within and outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-odendahl/through-their-donations-and-work-for-voluntary-organizations-the/) Teresa Odendahl > [“Ever were the rich folk, the pashas of Calimport, praised for their philanthropy, when in fact, the gold they so charitably gave actually cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/ever-were-the-rich-folk-the-pashas-of-calimport-praised-for-their/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [The best philanthropy is not just about giving money but giving leadership. The best philanthropists bring the gifts that made them successful-the drive, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-best-philanthropy-is-not-just-about-giving-money-but-giving/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“Philanthropists should find innovations that release the energies of people. Individuals don't want to be taken care of --they need to be given a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/philanthropists-should-find-innovations-that-release-the-energies-of/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [Philanthropy is often seen as society's risk capital. That means the onus is on philanthropists, nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to innovate. But philanthropic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/philanthropy-is-often-seen-as-society-s-risk-capital-that-means-the/) [Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/) > [I used to be opposed to the idea of social entrepreneurship. I said, you know, let business be business, and philanthropy be philanthropy. Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-used-to-be-opposed-to-the-idea-of-social-entrepreneurship-i-said/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [More good has been accomplished by simple people seeking their own honest ends than by all the philanthropists in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/more-good-has-been-accomplished-by-simple-people-seeking-their-own/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [If charity cost nothing, the world would be full of philanthropists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewish-proverb/if-charity-cost-nothing-the-world-would-be-full-of-philanthropists/) Jewish Proverb > [I have never hesitated to say that all philanthropists do have their politics. All of us have a political point of view; some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/i-have-never-hesitated-to-say-that-all-philanthropists-do-have-their/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [Most organizations should be pro-active, but philanthropists concerned with poverty should deliberately be reactive, learning from the efforts of ordinary folks who tired of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/most-organizations-should-be-pro-active-but-philanthropists-concerned/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [The Royal family have always been great philanthropists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arpad-busson/the-royal-family-have-always-been-great-philanthropists/) [Arpad Busson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arpad-busson/) > [I don't believe all rich people are selfless philanthropists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-goldberg/i-don-t-believe-all-rich-people-are-selfless-philanthropists/) [Bernard Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-goldberg/) > [The most amazing philanthropists are people who are actually making a significant sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-most-amazing-philanthropists-are-people-who-are-actually-making-a/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I want to spread the message in the U.S. that there are good philanthropists in China, and not all are crazy spenders on luxury…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/i-want-to-spread-the-message-in-the-u-s-that-there-are-good/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) ## More by George Soros > [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [We must not forget; but we must forgive. Suffering often such compassion from the Jewish community. It was Jewish groups in the US who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-must-not-forget-but-we-must-forgive-suffering-often-such/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I very often used to get backaches due to the fact that I was wrong. Whenever you are wrong you have to fight or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-very-often-used-to-get-backaches-due-to-the-fact-that-i-was-wrong/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [We are the most powerful nation on earth. No external power, no terrorist organization can defeat us. But we can defeat ourselves by getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-are-the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-no-external-power-no/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [Markets are constantly in a state of uncertainty and flux and money is made by discounting the obvious and betting on the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-constantly-in-a-state-of-uncertainty-and-flux-and-money/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [What works for Germany can't work for the rest of Europe: No country can run a chronic surplus without others running deficits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/what-works-for-germany-can-t-work-for-the-rest-of-europe-no-country/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [If truth be known, I carried some rather potent messianic fantasies with me from childhood which I felt I had to control, otherwise I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/if-truth-be-known-i-carried-some-rather-potent-messianic-fantasies/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [Find the trend whose premise is false, and bet against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/find-the-trend-whose-premise-is-false-and-bet-against-it/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [ We \[at Soros Fund Management\] use options and more exotic derivatives sparingly. We try to catch new trends early and in later stages we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-at-soros-fund-management-use-options-and-more-exotic-derivatives/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [“On the abstract level, I have turned the belief in my own fallibility into the cornerstone of an elaborate philosophy. On a personal level,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/on-the-abstract-level-i-have-turned-the-belief-in-my-own-fallibility/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [The main difference between me and other people who have amassed this kind of money is that I am primarily interested in ideas, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/the-main-difference-between-me-and-other-people-who-have-amassed-this/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [By creating the European Central Bank, the member states exposed their own government bonds to the risk of default. Developed countries that issue bonds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/by-creating-the-european-central-bank-the-member-states-exposed-their/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [Every bubble has two components: something - some real trend, and a misconception about that trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/every-bubble-has-two-components-something-some-real-trend-and-a/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) [Explore all 225 George Soros quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) ## More Generosity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Businesses acting as businesses, not as charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing the pressing issues society face(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/businesses-acting-as-businesses-not-as-charitable-donors-are-the-most/) Tony Elumelu > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I think more and more people are becoming much more sensitive to what they do with their money when they die, especially if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-think-more-and-more-people-are-becoming-much-more-sensitive-to-what/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [Children must early learn the the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/children-must-early-learn-the-the-beauty-of-generosity-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always clear that I didn't want to just do pure charity. My thinking was definitely about looking at the levers in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/i-was-always-clear-that-i-didn-t-want-to-just-do-pure-charity-my/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Browse all 3,867 Generosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In my view, philanthropy goes against the grain; therefore it generates a lot of hypocrisy and many paradoxes. 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