--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, we live in a world of incredible…" description: "\"Today, we live in a world of incredible wealth and technology, alongside the most horrendous conditions of poverty, war and environmental crisis. This ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/kshama-sawant-19963_capitalism_today-we-live-in-a-world-of-incredible-w_1363043.jpg" --- # Today, we live in a world of incredible wealth and… ![“Today, we live in a world of incredible wealth and technology, alongside the most horrendous conditions of poverty, war and environmental crisis. This is result of capitalism, a system based on prioritizing profits not human need where the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a capitalist elite.” quote by Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/kshama-sawant-19963_capitalism_today-we-live-in-a-world-of-incredible-w_1363043.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/kshama-sawant-19963_capitalism_today-we-live-in-a-world-of-incredible-w_1363043.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/kshama-sawant-19963_capitalism_today-we-live-in-a-world-of-incredible-w_1363043.jpg) > “Today, we live in a world of incredible wealth and technology, alongside the most horrendous conditions of poverty, war and environmental crisis. This is result of capitalism, a system based on prioritizing profits not human need where the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a capitalist elite.” [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the paradox of modern wealth and technology existing alongside severe poverty, war, and environmental crises, attributing this to profit‑driven capitalism. **In simple terms:** Capitalism creates wealth but also deep inequality and crises. Key Takeaway Advocate for economic systems prioritizing human needs. Themes inequality environment war capitalism wealth distribution Mood critical concerned Type analysis political When to use this quote - policy debates - activist organizing - educational forums Key Concepts social justice economic theory sustainability Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance profit and human need? - What alternatives to capitalism could address these crises? A Different Perspective Complex issues may require nuanced solutions beyond simple blame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-crisis/) [Human needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-needs/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [What we've undergone in recent decades worldwide has been totally insane, and all of this is a result of capitalism. The workforce in Latin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-correa/what-we-ve-undergone-in-recent-decades-worldwide-has-been-totally/) [Rafael Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-correa/) > [Capitalism is based on ruthless exploitation and competition, and leads inevitably to the development of mega monopolies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/capitalism-is-based-on-ruthless-exploitation-and-competition-and/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [Modern capitalism is based on a myth: that thriving private entrepreneurs generate wealth through their own hard work, innovation and get-up-and-go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/modern-capitalism-is-based-on-a-myth-that-thriving-private/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [A new model of heroic capitalism based on principle-driven, free-market entrepreneurship deserves a central place in business-ethics thought and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-bradley-jr/a-new-model-of-heroic-capitalism-based-on-principle-driven-free/) Robert L. Bradley, Jr > [Capitalism in and of itself is based on the monetising of human labour, and the first evidence of that is slavery. And that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/capitalism-in-and-of-itself-is-based-on-the-monetising-of-human/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [Capitalism is based on self-interest and self-esteem; it holds integrity and trustworthiness as cardinal virtues and makes them pay off in the marketplace, thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/capitalism-is-based-on-self-interest-and-self-esteem-it-holds/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“Capitalism is based on the concept that in order for someone to succeed, someone else has to suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tawni-o-dell/capitalism-is-based-on-the-concept-that-in-order-for-someone-to/) [Tawni O'Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tawni-o-dell/) > [Capitalism is based on the principle that everything has to be privately owned; it can't be held in common. There is even a dogma,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/capitalism-is-based-on-the-principle-that-everything-has-to-be/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Capitalism is based on individual rights - not on the sacrifice of the individual to the 'public good' of the collective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/capitalism-is-based-on-individual-rights-not-on-the-sacrifice-of-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Plot idea: 97% of the world's scientists contrive an environmental crisis, but are exposed by a plucky band of billionaires & oil companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/plot-idea-97-of-the-world-s-scientists-contrive-an-environmental/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/we-are-in-an-environmental-crisis-which-threatens-the-survival-of/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The ecological crisis is doing what no other crisis in history has ever done - challenging us to a realization of a new humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/the-ecological-crisis-is-doing-what-no-other-crisis-in-history-has/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [The threat of environmental crisis is the 'international disaster key' to unlock the New World Order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/the-threat-of-environmental-crisis-is-the-international-disaster-key/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [The environmental crisis is all a result of rushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/the-environmental-crisis-is-all-a-result-of-rushing/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [“A crowd whose discontent has risen no higher than the level of slogans is only a crowd. But a crowd that understands the reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-crowd-whose-discontent-has-risen-no-higher-than-the-level-of/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by Kshama Sawant > [While we still live in a capitalist society, we of course will fight for whatever reforms help make life better for working people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/while-we-still-live-in-a-capitalist-society-we-of-course-will-fight/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [Socialism is a society where the resources are used democratically to provide a better life for all, based on ending the dictatorship of big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/socialism-is-a-society-where-the-resources-are-used-democratically-to/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [On the basis of capitalism, victories like raising the minimum wage are only temporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/on-the-basis-of-capitalism-victories-like-raising-the-minimum-wage/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [Socialism is a fundamentally different social system where the world's resources are not controlled by a greedy, undemocratic oligarchy. This is not the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/socialism-is-a-fundamentally-different-social-system-where-the-world/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [The for-profit health insurance industry is the main obstacle to delivering high quality, universal healthcare for all. It should be replaced with a single-payer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/the-for-profit-health-insurance-industry-is-the-main-obstacle-to/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [Bernie Sanders talks about socialism in Scandinavia, and he's correct to point to the huge victories the working class has won there through struggle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/bernie-sanders-talks-about-socialism-in-scandinavia-and-he-s-correct/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [Big business has many tools to make us pay for the crisis of their system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/big-business-has-many-tools-to-make-us-pay-for-the-crisis-of-their/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [We've seen the weakest economic recovery since World War II, and massive levels of inequality and debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/we-ve-seen-the-weakest-economic-recovery-since-world-war-ii-and/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [The programs that came to be known as the New Deal were not simply handed down by the benevolence of FDR and the Democrats.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/the-programs-that-came-to-be-known-as-the-new-deal-were-not-simply/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [When the New Deal programs were passed in the mid 1930s, millions of workers were joining unions, striking, and occupying factories to fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/when-the-new-deal-programs-were-passed-in-the-mid-1930s-millions-of/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [Whether or not you agree with Bernie Sanders' version of socialism, it is enormously significant that, for the first time in US history, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/whether-or-not-you-agree-with-bernie-sanders-version-of-socialism-it/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [What Bernie Sanders is calling for is incredibly important. Things like a $15/hour minimum wage, single-payer healthcare, taxing the rich, and free education. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/what-bernie-sanders-is-calling-for-is-incredibly-important-things/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [The underlying issue is the system of capitalism itself, and under this system the best means for regulating or checking their power is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/the-underlying-issue-is-the-system-of-capitalism-itself-and-under/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [There is a myth that the New Deal programs on their own pulled the US out of the Great Depression and created the conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/there-is-a-myth-that-the-new-deal-programs-on-their-own-pulled-the-us/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [To break the power of the big corporations, we would propose that the biggest 500 corporations that dominate the rigged economy and political system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/to-break-the-power-of-the-big-corporations-we-would-propose-that-the/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) [Explore all 31 Kshama Sawant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) ## More Capitalism quotes > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [The free market is ugly and stupid, like going to the mall; the unfree market is just as ugly and just as stupid, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-free-market-is-ugly-and-stupid-like-going-to-the-mall-the-unfree/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Socialism is humanity's second nature. All politicians do is turn human vice into votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/socialism-is-humanity-s-second-nature-all-politicians-do-is-turn/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [“Scholars have long debated whether capital markets lead to appropriate levels of saving and investment for future generations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-weimer/scholars-have-long-debated-whether-capital-markets-lead-to/) David L. Weimer > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 3,832 Capitalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Today, we live in a world of incredible wealth and technology, alongside the most horrendous conditions of poverty, war and environmental crisis. 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