--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For at least another hundred years we…" description: "\"For at least another hundred years we must pretend to ourselves and to every one that fair is foul and foul is fair; for foul is useful and fair is not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f49/john-maynard-keynes-1380_avarice_for-at-least-another-hundred-years-we-mu_1825404.png" --- # For at least another hundred years we must pretend to… ![“For at least another hundred years we must pretend to ourselves and to every one that fair is foul and foul is fair; for foul is useful and fair is not. Avarice and usury and precaution must be our gods for a little longer still.” quote by John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f49/john-maynard-keynes-1380_avarice_for-at-least-another-hundred-years-we-mu_1825404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f49/john-maynard-keynes-1380_avarice_for-at-least-another-hundred-years-we-mu_1825404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f49/john-maynard-keynes-1380_avarice_for-at-least-another-hundred-years-we-mu_1825404.png) > “For at least another hundred years we must pretend to ourselves and to every one that fair is foul and foul is fair; for foul is useful and fair is not. Avarice and usury and precaution must be our gods for a little longer still.” [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that fairness is a social construct, and that self‑interest and caution dominate economic behavior, urging a temporary acceptance of these motives. **In simple terms:** He says fairness is fake and self‑interest rules. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of self‑interest in economics. Themes economics philosophy politics morality Mood analytical skeptical Type economic philosophical When to use this quote - policy analysis - economic theory - ethical debates Key Concepts self‑interest fairness precaution Questions to Reflect On - Can societies thrive without fairness? - What are the risks of embracing self‑interest? A Different Perspective The view may overlook genuine altruism and long‑term societal benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Avarice Usury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice-usury-2229545/) [Fair Foul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-foul-852777/) [Foul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foul/) [Foul Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foul-useful-2229544/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Precaution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precaution/) [Usury Precaution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usury-precaution-2229546/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Blessed be the night, which conceals and protects things fair and foul with the same indifferent mantle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/blessed-be-the-night-which-conceals-and-protects-things-fair-and-foul/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Fair or foul the lot apportioned life on earth, we bear alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/fair-or-foul-the-lot-apportioned-life-on-earth-we-bear-alike/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [When you're hot, it's fair, when you're not, it's foul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-reynolds/when-you-re-hot-it-s-fair-when-you-re-not-it-s-foul/) [Harold Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-reynolds/) > [“So fair and foul a day I have not seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [So fair and foul a day i had not seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-had-not-seen/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [First of all, you want umpires to call what they see. In the case of fair or foul, the smartest thing is to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/first-of-all-you-want-umpires-to-call-what-they-see-in-the-case-of/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through fog and filthy air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fair-is-foul-and-foul-is-fair-hover-through-fog-and-filthy-air/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You women are all the same, if bed's all right, You think everything else can go to the wind. But if there's any infringement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-women-are-all-the-same-if-bed-s-all-right-you-think-everything/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I knew it was gonna go out. It was just a question of it being fair or foul. The wind must have carried it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-fisk/i-knew-it-was-gonna-go-out-it-was-just-a-question-of-it-being-fair-or/) [Carlton Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-fisk/) > [We mark some days as fair, some as foul, because we do not see that the character of every day as identical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frazier/we-mark-some-days-as-fair-some-as-foul-because-we-do-not-see-that-the/) [Charles Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frazier/) > [Be fair, or foul, or rain, or shine, The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine. Not heaven itself upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/be-fair-or-foul-or-rain-or-shine-the-joys-i-have-possessed-in-spite/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Fair and foul are near of kin And fair needs foul," I cried. "My friends are gone, but that's a truth Nor grave nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/fair-and-foul-are-near-of-kin-and-fair-needs-foul-i-cried-my-friends/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [I like to see the difference between good and evil as kind of like the foul line at a baseball game. It's very thin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-like-to-see-the-difference-between-good-and-evil-as-kind-of-like/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [Ah fair Zenocrate, divine Zenocrate, Fair is too foul an epithet for thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/ah-fair-zenocrate-divine-zenocrate-fair-is-too-foul-an-epithet-for/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) ## More by John Maynard Keynes > [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [If you owe your bank manager a thousand pounds, you are at his mercy. If you owe him a million pounds, he is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/if-you-owe-your-bank-manager-a-thousand-pounds-you-are-at-his-mercy/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/there-is-no-subtler-no-surer-means-of-overturning-the-existing-basis/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [It has been pointed out already that no knowledge of probabilities, less in degree than certainty, helps us to know what conclusions are true,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/it-has-been-pointed-out-already-that-no-knowledge-of-probabilities/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Everything is always decided for reasons other than the real merits of the case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/everything-is-always-decided-for-reasons-other-than-the-real-merits/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [In the long run we are all dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/in-the-long-run-we-are-all-dead/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [The power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/the-power-of-vested-interests-is-vastly-exaggerated-compared-with-the/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [It is a good thing to make mistakes so long as you're found out quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/it-is-a-good-thing-to-make-mistakes-so-long-as-you-re-found-out/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [When the accumulation of wealth is no longer of high social importance, there will be great changes in the code of morals. We shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/when-the-accumulation-of-wealth-is-no-longer-of-high-social/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Of the maxims of orthodox finance none, surely, is more anti-social than the fetish of liquidity, the doctrine of that it is a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/of-the-maxims-of-orthodox-finance-none-surely-is-more-anti-social/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [The outstanding faults of the economic society in which we live are its failure to provide for full employment and its arbitrary and inequitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/the-outstanding-faults-of-the-economic-society-in-which-we-live-are/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [I conceive, therefore, that a somewhat comprehensive socialisation of investment will prove the means of securing an approximation to full employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/i-conceive-therefore-that-a-somewhat-comprehensive-socialisation-of/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/capitalism-is-the-astounding-belief-that-the-most-wickedest-of-men/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Economics is a very dangerous science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/economics-is-a-very-dangerous-science/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Whenever you save five shillings you put a man out of work for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/whenever-you-save-five-shillings-you-put-a-man-out-of-work-for-a-day/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) [Explore all 246 John Maynard Keynes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) ## More Avarice quotes > [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pcanet, and other powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/where-today-are-the-pequot-where-are-the-narragansett-the-mohican-the/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Where poverty ceases, avarice begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/where-poverty-ceases-avarice-begins/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/five-enemies-of-peace-inhabit-with-us-avarice-ambition-envy-anger-and/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > ['Maneater' is about N.Y.C. in the '80s. It's about greed, avarice, and spoiled riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/maneater-is-about-n-y-c-in-the-80s-it-s-about-greed-avarice-and/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Riches with their wicked inducements increase; nevertheless, avarice is never satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/riches-with-their-wicked-inducements-increase-nevertheless-avarice-is/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-virtue-is-banished-ambition-invades-the-minds-of-those-who-are/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the arms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-is-always-in-a-hurry-to-be-wealthy-and-immersed-in-the-study/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Goodness is weakness, pleasantness is poisonous, serenity is mediocrity and kindness is for losers. The best reason for committing loathsome and detestable acts –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/goodness-is-weakness-pleasantness-is-poisonous-serenity-is-mediocrity/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) [Browse all 318 Avarice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For at least another hundred years we must pretend to ourselves and to every one that fair is foul and foul is fair; for foul is useful and fair is not. 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