--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s tragic to think that heroic man’s…" description: "\"“It’s tragic to think that heroic man’s great destiny is to become economic man, that men will be reduced to craven creatures who crawl across the glob..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/jack-donovan-23606_money_it-s-tragic-to-think-that-heroic-man-s-g_3182467.png" --- # It’s tragic to think that heroic man’s great destiny is to… ![“It’s tragic to think that heroic man’s great destiny is to become economic man, that men will be reduced to craven creatures who crawl across the globe competing for money, who spend their nights dreaming up new ways to swindle each other. That’s the path we’re on now. What a withering, ignoble end…” quote by Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/jack-donovan-23606_money_it-s-tragic-to-think-that-heroic-man-s-g_3182467.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/jack-donovan-23606_money_it-s-tragic-to-think-that-heroic-man-s-g_3182467.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/jack-donovan-23606_money_it-s-tragic-to-think-that-heroic-man-s-g_3182467.png) > ““It’s tragic to think that heroic man’s great destiny is to become economic man, that men will be reduced to craven creatures who crawl across the globe competing for money, who spend their nights dreaming up new ways to swindle each other. That’s the path we’re on now. What a withering, ignoble end…”” [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that society reduces noble humans to greedy, money‑driven beings, losing heroic purpose. **In simple terms:** Heroes become greedy, losing purpose. Key Takeaway Resist materialism, preserve dignity. Themes materialism humanity heroism Mood cynical reflective Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - business culture - political discourse - personal ambition Key Concepts philosophy social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does wealth pursuit affect moral character? - Can societies retain heroism amid capitalism? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destiny Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny-economic-5836392/) [Economic Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-man-1659364/) [Heroic Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroic-man-2525754/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Think Heroic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-heroic-3445151/) [Tragic Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic-think-2493131/) ## Related quotes > [Without the heroic, man has no meaning; without the economic, he has no sense. Economic man is most likely to be economic woman -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/without-the-heroic-man-has-no-meaning-without-the-economic-he-has-no/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [For every story you hear that's tragic, there's another that's equally tragic or more so. I think you come to look at it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/for-every-story-you-hear-that-s-tragic-there-s-another-that-s-equally/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [Do you take pride in your hurt? Does it make you seem large and tragic? ...Well, think about it. Maybe you're playing a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/do-you-take-pride-in-your-hurt-does-it-make-you-seem-large-and-tragic/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The heroic man does not pose; he leaves that for the man who wishes to be thought heroic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-heroic-man-does-not-pose-he-leaves-that-for-the-man-who-wishes-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [I think that we all do heroic things, but hero is not a noun, it's a verb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-think-that-we-all-do-heroic-things-but-hero-is-not-a-noun-it-s-a/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I think of few heroic actions, which cannot be traced to the artistical impulse. He who does great deeds, does them from his innate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-think-of-few-heroic-actions-which-cannot-be-traced-to-the/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“Before she closed her eyes tonight, Rose said she regretted that she has not done something heroic in her life. Well, it's not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lansens/before-she-closed-her-eyes-tonight-rose-said-she-regretted-that-she/) [Lori Lansens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lansens/) > [“When economists base their models on their fantasies of an "economic man" motivated only by self-interest, they forget community--the all-important web of meaning we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cacilda-jeth/when-economists-base-their-models-on-their-fantasies-of-an-economic/) [Cacilda Jethá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cacilda-jeth/) > [“Economics is not a true description of one kind of action but an abstract, arbitrary, and therefore erroneous description of all action; and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-g-collingwood/economics-is-not-a-true-description-of-one-kind-of-action-but-an/) [R. G. Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-g-collingwood/) > [Whereas economic man maximises, selects the best alternative from among all those available to him, his cousin, administrative man, satisfices, looks for a course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-a-simon/whereas-economic-man-maximises-selects-the-best-alternative-from/) [Herbert A. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-a-simon/) > [“Depicting rational economic man as an isolated individual – unaffected by the choices of others – proved highly convenient for modelling the economy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-raworth/depicting-rational-economic-man-as-an-isolated-individual-unaffected/) [Kate Raworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-raworth/) > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) ## More by Jack Donovan > [“The natural gods of men are other men, mythic or real, who embody manhood in men's eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/the-natural-gods-of-men-are-other-men-mythic-or-real-who-embody/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [As things get worse and the State seems powerless to help, the State will seem less and less legitimate. People will lose their moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/as-things-get-worse-and-the-state-seems-powerless-to-help-the-state/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [It must be scary to stand up for beliefs also held by Eric Holder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/it-must-be-scary-to-stand-up-for-beliefs-also-held-by-eric-holder/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Violence is the gold standard, the reserve that guarantees order. In actuality, it is better than a gold standard, because violence has universal value.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/violence-is-the-gold-standard-the-reserve-that-guarantees-order-in/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Strength, Courage, Mastery, and Honor are the alpha virtues of men all over the world. They are the fundamental virtues of men because without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/strength-courage-mastery-and-honor-are-the-alpha-virtues-of-men-all/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [“Men cannot be men—much less good or heroic men—unless their actions have meaningful consequences to people they truly care about. Strength requires an opposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/men-cannot-be-men-much-less-good-or-heroic-men-unless-their-actions/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [“Until you can function as a competent member of the group and carry your own weight, you are a supplicant and a drag on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/until-you-can-function-as-a-competent-member-of-the-group-and-carry/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Men of ideas and men of action have much to learn from each other, and the truly great are men of both action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/men-of-ideas-and-men-of-action-have-much-to-learn-from-each-other-and/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Sometimes men pick fights just for something to do-just to feel something like the threat of harm and the possibility of triumph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/sometimes-men-pick-fights-just-for-something-to-do-just-to-feel/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [When men evaluate each other as men, they still look for the same virtues that they'd need to keep the perimeter. Men respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/when-men-evaluate-each-other-as-men-they-still-look-for-the-same/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Without action, words are just words. Without violence, laws are just words. Violence isn’t the only answer, but it is the final answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/without-action-words-are-just-words-without-violence-laws-are-just/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Gay is a subculture, a slur, a set of gestures, a slang, a look, a posture, a parade, a rainbow flag, a film genre,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/gay-is-a-subculture-a-slur-a-set-of-gestures-a-slang-a-look-a-posture/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [White guilt is more of a sanctioned social convention than a genuine emotional experience. It’s a form of theatrical empathy that’s socially and financially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/white-guilt-is-more-of-a-sanctioned-social-convention-than-a-genuine/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Civilization comes at a cost of manliness. It comes at a cost of wildness, of risk, of strife. It comes at a cost of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/civilization-comes-at-a-cost-of-manliness-it-comes-at-a-cost-of/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Violence isn't the only answer, but it is the final answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/violence-isn-t-the-only-answer-but-it-is-the-final-answer/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) [Explore all 25 Jack Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) ## More Money quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/) [Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy/) > [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/) [Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. 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