Money Quote by John Galsworthy
““James and the other eight children of 'Superior Dosset,' of whom there are still five alive, may be said to have represented Victorian England, with its principles of trade and individualism at five per cent, and your money back - if you know what that means. At all events they've turned thirty thousand pounds into a cool million between them in the course of their long lives. (...) Their day is passing, and their type, not altogether for the advantage of the country. They were pedestrian, but they too were sound.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, 1906
The characters embody Victorian values of trade and individualism, amassing wealth but offering limited societal benefit.
In simple terms: Victorian ideals produced wealth yet limited broader good.
Key Takeaway
Balance personal success with public contribution.
Themes
wealth
individualism
societal impact
Mood
reflective
skeptical
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- financial planning
- philanthropy
- career counseling
- public policy
Key Concepts
capital accumulation
social responsibility
class dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities accompany great wealth?
- How can individualism serve the common good?
A Different Perspective
Wealth alone does not guarantee societal progress.
![“Justice is a machine that, when someone has once given it the starting push, rolls on of itself. - John Galsworthy, Justice [1910], act II” quote by John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb0/john-galsworthy-4232_computers_justice-is-a-machine-that-when-someone-h_110831.jpg)
