Acquire Quote by Lewis H. Lapham
“Money is like fire, an element as little troubled by moralizing as earth, air and water. Men can employ it as a tool or they can dance around it as if it were the incarnation of a god. Money votes socialist or monarchist, finds a profit in pornography or translations from the Bible, commissions Rembrandt and underwrites the technology of Auschwitz. It acquires its meaning from the uses to which it is put.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea, 2005
Money is a neutral force that reflects the intentions of its users, shaping society for better or worse.
In simple terms: Money reflects how people use it.
Key Takeaway
Use money responsibly.
Themes
power
morality
society
technology
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- art patronage
- war financing
- media production
- philanthropy
Key Concepts
economics
ethics
culture
history
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your financial choices reflect your values?
- Can money ever be truly neutral?
A Different Perspective
Money cannot be fully separated from the values of those who wield it.
![“[For American consumer society], the country's reserves of ignorance constitute a natural resource as precious as the Mississippi River or the long-lost herds of buffalo.” quote by Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b0/lewis-h-lapham-7190_buffalo_for-american-consumer-society-the-countr_157122.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
