Anna-karenina Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““The acquisition by dishonest means and cunning,' said Levin, feeling that he was incapable of clearly defining the borderline between honesty and dishonesty. 'Like the profits made by banks,' he went on. 'This is evil, I mean, the acquisition of enormous fortunes without work, as it used to be with the spirit monopolists. Only the form has changed. Le roi est mort, vive le roi! Hardly were the monopolies abolished before railways and banks appeared: just another way of making money without work.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: War and Peace, 1869
The quote criticizes wealth gained through exploitation and financial manipulation, likening modern banks to old monopolies that profit without labor.
In simple terms: Wealth without work is immoral.
Key Takeaway
Question systems that profit without effort.
Themes
ethics
economics
justice
power
history
Mood
critical
contemplative
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business regulation
- public policy
- personal finance
- education
- activism
Key Concepts
exploitation
monopoly
capitalism
morality
inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- Can profit ever be ethical?
- How do we distinguish fair gain from exploitation?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks the role of innovation and risk in creating value.
