American dream Quote by Kurt Vonnegut
““Thus did a handful of rapacious citizens come to control all that was worth controlling in America. Thus was the savage and stupid and entirely inappropriate and unnecessary and humorless American class system created. Honest, industrious, peaceful citizens were classed as bloodsuckers, if they asked to be paid a living wage. And they saw that praise was reserved henceforth for those who devised means of getting paid enormously for committing crimes against which no laws had been passed. Thus the American dream turned belly up, turned green, bobbed to the scummy surface of cupidity unlimited, filled with gas, went bang in the noonday sun.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Satire on American capitalism, 1975
The pursuit of profit creates a corrupt class system that rewards crime over honest work, ruining the American Dream.
In simple terms: Greed corrupts society and defeats fairness.
Key Takeaway
Question systems that prioritize profit over people.
Themes
economics
corruption
social critique
Mood
cynical
ironic
Type
satirical
political
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- ethical business
- public awareness
Key Concepts
capitalism
class inequality
political satire
Questions to Reflect On
- What reforms could balance profit and fairness?
- How does satire influence public perception of economic injustice?
A Different Perspective
Satire exaggerates and may overlook nuanced solutions.
![“Thomas Jefferson High School [..] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on the subject of human liberty.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73a/kurt-vonnegut-41_freedom_thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-sc_9727.jpg)
