Advantage Quote by John Kenneth Galbraith
“People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith, 1958
Those with privilege will rather destroy themselves than give up any material advantage.
In simple terms: Privilege resists sharing at all costs.
Key Takeaway
Consider the cost of clinging to advantage.
Themes
wealth
ethics
social justice
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- philanthropy
- corporate governance
- public discourse
Key Concepts
inequality
self‑interest
Questions to Reflect On
- What incentives could encourage privileged groups to share?
- How does this behavior affect societal stability?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes fear of loss can be mitigated by trust and collective benefit.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
