--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who think profit is a dirty word…" description: "\"Those who think profit is a dirty word should try to make one.\" — James Cook" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/james-cook-1930_dirty_those-who-think-profit-is-a-dirty-word-s_1875042.jpg" --- # Those who think profit is a dirty word should try to make… ![“Those who think profit is a dirty word should try to make one.” quote by James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/james-cook-1930_dirty_those-who-think-profit-is-a-dirty-word-s_1875042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/james-cook-1930_dirty_those-who-think-profit-is-a-dirty-word-s_1875042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/james-cook-1930_dirty_those-who-think-profit-is-a-dirty-word-s_1875042.jpg) > “Those who think profit is a dirty word should try to make one.” [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Profit is often stigmatized, but it can be a tool for positive impact when pursued responsibly. **In simple terms:** Profit can be good if used wisely. Key Takeaway Seek ethical profit. Themes ethics economics innovation Mood reflective critical Type thought‑provoking analytical When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - social enterprises - policy making Key Concepts Capitalism social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can profit serve societal good? - What safeguards ensure ethical profit? A Different Perspective Profit motives can conflict with moral values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty/) [Dirty Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-word/) [Dirty words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-words/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profit Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-dirty-2611759/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Think Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-profit-2611760/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > ["Pop" was a dirty word for a really long time and it feels like that's not the case anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-plapinger/pop-was-a-dirty-word-for-a-really-long-time-and-it-feels-like-that-s/) [Lizzy Plapinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-plapinger/) > [Risk is not a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/risk-is-not-a-dirty-word/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > [We always think of our own profit, but not in connection to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/we-always-think-of-our-own-profit-but-not-in-connection-to-others/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I don't think 'Profit' is devoid of morality. He's just on a different plane than the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/i-don-t-think-profit-is-devoid-of-morality-he-s-just-on-a-different/) [Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/) > [Reductionism is a dirty word, and a kind of 'holistier than thou' self-righteousness has become fashionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/reductionism-is-a-dirty-word-and-a-kind-of-holistier-than-thou-self/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [A dirty word in the film business right now is intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-caruso/a-dirty-word-in-the-film-business-right-now-is-intelligence/) [David Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-caruso/) > [I think if we can't use the word feminist, if it's some kind of taboo or dirty word, or means you're ugly, or you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-think-if-we-can-t-use-the-word-feminist-if-it-s-some-kind-of-taboo/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Please make sure everyone knows how much their messages mean to me. They have added greatly to my peace of mind. I only wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cooper/please-make-sure-everyone-knows-how-much-their-messages-mean-to-me/) [Gary Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cooper/) > [In obstetrics and gynecology, the term abortionist is still a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thompson/in-obstetrics-and-gynecology-the-term-abortionist-is-still-a-dirty/) [Joe Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thompson/) > [It is a fitting irony that under Richard Nixon, 'launder' became a dirty word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/it-is-a-fitting-irony-that-under-richard-nixon-launder-became-a-dirty/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Well, I don't think Hollywood's a dirty word at all, I love a lot of Hollywood films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/well-i-don-t-think-hollywood-s-a-dirty-word-at-all-i-love-a-lot-of/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [I remember the whole thing with the word ambition. I was messed up for a while because I associated it with certain people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-the-whole-thing-with-the-word-ambition-i-was-messed-up-for/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/busy-is-an-opportunity-not-a-dirty-word/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [I find myself, after all these years, with a built-in safety-brake that stops me from doing certain things. And one of the reasons why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-newton/i-find-myself-after-all-these-years-with-a-built-in-safety-brake-that/) [Helmut Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-newton/) > [Marijuana is rejected all over the world. Damned. In England heroin is alright for out-patents, but marijuana? They'll put your ass in jail. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/marijuana-is-rejected-all-over-the-world-damned-in-england-heroin-is/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) ## More by James Cook > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [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/) > [Gasahol is socialism's fuel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/gasahol-is-socialism-s-fuel/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Why is it so hard to see that when America had high savings, low taxes and minimal government, the economy grew like a week,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/why-is-it-so-hard-to-see-that-when-america-had-high-savings-low-taxes/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [The longer people receive economic assistance, the worse their social condition and behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-longer-people-receive-economic-assistance-the-worse-their-social/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Knaves will come and knaves will go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/knaves-will-come-and-knaves-will-go/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Whatever you subsidize you get more of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/whatever-you-subsidize-you-get-more-of/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Once you're in heaven it makes no difference when you got there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/once-you-re-in-heaven-it-makes-no-difference-when-you-got-there/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Liberals have one solution for every economic issue; eat the seed corn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/liberals-have-one-solution-for-every-economic-issue-eat-the-seed-corn/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Hardly anything works out as well as we hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/hardly-anything-works-out-as-well-as-we-hope/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Those who live off of the donations of capitalism are often its greatest critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/those-who-live-off-of-the-donations-of-capitalism-are-often-its/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Let one state in the U.S. be free of government and overnight you would have an economic powerhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/let-one-state-in-the-u-s-be-free-of-government-and-overnight-you/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [The more noteworthy a person's achievements, the more government agents are attracted to investigating that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-more-noteworthy-a-person-s-achievements-the-more-government/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Throughout history government has seldom hesitated from robbing its citizens in a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/throughout-history-government-has-seldom-hesitated-from-robbing-its/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Employers know the nature of people best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/employers-know-the-nature-of-people-best/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) [Explore all 197 James Cook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) ## More Dirty quotes > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [Who gets to be best-liked in any community? Who is the most trusted? Why, the man who does the dirty job, of course, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/who-gets-to-be-best-liked-in-any-community-who-is-the-most-trusted/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Dont ever wrestle with a pig u'll both get dirty but the pig will enj0y it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udechukwu-d0navan/dont-ever-wrestle-with-a-pig-u-ll-both-get-dirty-but-the-pig-will/) [Udechukwu D0navan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udechukwu-d0navan/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [“She's not the enemy. She's just a dirty fighter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/she-s-not-the-enemy-she-s-just-a-dirty-fighter/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [Mr. Bumpy from Bump in the Night was this funky little guy who lived under the bed and thought eating dust bunnies was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/mr-bumpy-from-bump-in-the-night-was-this-funky-little-guy-who-lived/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [My hair is naturally blond and thin, so I like to give it some texture. Sexy, dirty bedhead is good for blonds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/my-hair-is-naturally-blond-and-thin-so-i-like-to-give-it-some-texture/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [Good guys need to be a little dirty otherwise they're just boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-cassel/good-guys-need-to-be-a-little-dirty-otherwise-they-re-just-boring/) [Vincent Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-cassel/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. 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