Capitalism Quote by John Berger
“Capitalism survives by forcing the majority, whom it exploits, to define their own interests as narrowly as possible. This was once achieved by extensive deprivation. Today in the developed countries it is being achieved by imposing a false standard of what is and what is not desirable.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Ways of Seeing by John Berger, 1972
Capitalism manipulates people to limit their desires, using scarcity then false ideals to maintain control.
In simple terms: Capitalism narrows people's wants to keep power.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question imposed standards.
Themes
politics
economics
power
culture
manipulation
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marketing
- policy making
- personal budgeting
- media consumption
Key Concepts
consumerism
ideology
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify false standards in your life?
- What desires might you reclaim?
A Different Perspective
It can overlook individual agency and resistance.
![“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 think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“There's the artist's intimacy and truthfulness to himself, but an equal intimacy to the Other [the one drawn]. Picasso drawings are like that... the Rembrandts are like that. The artist who most often did that was Van Gogh.” quote by John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d1/john-berger-1590_art_there-s-the-artist-s-intimacy-and-truthf_155171.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
