Capacity Quote by John Kenneth Galbraith
“Financial capacity and political perspicacity are inversely correlated. Long-run salvation by men of business has never been highly regarded if it means disturbance of orderly life and convenience in the present. So inaction will be advocated in the present even though it means deep trouble in the future. Here, at least equally with Communism, lies the threat to Capitalism. It is what causes men who know that things are going quite wrong to say that things are fundamentally sound.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Affluent Society, 1958
Economic power and political insight often conflict; short‑term comfort is favored over long‑term solutions, risking future problems.
In simple terms: Power and insight clash; short‑term comfort harms future.
Key Takeaway
Balance immediate comfort with long‑term planning.
Themes
economics
politics
future risk
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
economic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business decisions
- government policy
- environmental planning
Key Concepts
short‑termism
policy inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- What trade‑offs are acceptable now?
- How can we incentivize long‑term thinking?
A Different Perspective
Short‑term comfort may be necessary for stability.
