Capitalism Quote by John Berger
““The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied...but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Ways of Seeing, 1972 (essay collection)
The quote argues that modern poverty is not caused by scarcity but by the priorities of the wealthy, leading to the poor being dehumanized and treated as expendable in a consumer‑driven society.
In simple terms: Modern poverty stems from wealthy priorities, not lack of resources, dehumanizing the poor.
Challenge societal values that marginalize the poor.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- community organizing
- educational programs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies restructure priorities to value all lives?
- What role does consumerism play in sustaining inequality?
The critique may overlook structural complexities beyond consumer culture.