Conditions Quote by Gunnar Myrdal
“People become less inhibited from wanting to change social and economic conditions in a radical fashion according to their own interests, and from being prepared to think of state intervention in ever wider spheres as possible and useful for this purpose.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An American Dilemma, 1944
People may pursue radical change for self‑interest, viewing state intervention as useful for personal goals.
In simple terms: Self‑interest drives radical change.
Key Takeaway
Critique motives behind reform.
Themes
economics
politics
self‑interest
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
academic
political
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- activism
- academic research
Key Concepts
public policy
social theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Are reforms always self‑serving?
- How to align personal and public good?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify motives.
![“[T]he mass-man sees in the State an anonymous power, and feeling himself, like it, anonymous, he believes that the State is something of his own. Suppose that in the public life of a country some difficulty, conflict, or problem presents itself, the mass-man will tend to demand that the State…” quote by Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/29f/jose-ortega-y-gasset-1688_absorption_t-he-mass-man-sees-in-the-state-an-anony_414993.jpg)
![“[...] in a predatory capitalist economy, state intervention would be an absolute necessity to preserve human existence and to prevent the destruction of the physical environment [...].” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b9e/noam-chomsky-42_capitalism_in-a-predatory-capitalist-economy-state_2920823.jpg)
