--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without rich people who want it done now…" description: "\"“Without rich people who want it done now, who would animate the free world? In theory, you want everyone to live peacefully according to their needs, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/michael-cunningham-1120_beautiful-daughter_without-rich-people-who-want-it-done-now_2045958.jpg" --- # Without rich people who want it done now, who would… ![“Without rich people who want it done now, who would animate the free world? In theory, you want everyone to live peacefully according to their needs, along the banks of a river. In fact, you worry that you'd die of boredom there. In fact, you get a buzz from someone like Carole Potter, who keeps…” quote by Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/michael-cunningham-1120_beautiful-daughter_without-rich-people-who-want-it-done-now_2045958.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/michael-cunningham-1120_beautiful-daughter_without-rich-people-who-want-it-done-now_2045958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/michael-cunningham-1120_beautiful-daughter_without-rich-people-who-want-it-done-now_2045958.jpg) > ““Without rich people who want it done now, who would animate the free world? In theory, you want everyone to live peacefully according to their needs, along the banks of a river. In fact, you worry that you'd die of boredom there. In fact, you get a buzz from someone like Carole Potter, who keeps prize chickens and could teach a graduate course in landscaping; who maintains a staff of four (more in the summers, during High Guest Season); a handsome, slightly ridiculous husband; a beautiful daughter at Harvard and an incorrigible son doing something or other on Bondi Beach; Carole who is charming and self-deprecating and capable, if pushed, of a hostile indifference crueler than any form of rage; who reads novels and goes to movies and theater and yes, yes, bless her, buys art, serious art, about which she actually fucking knows a thing or two.”” [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote sat that a small elite of driven, affluent individuals are needed to energize society, otherwise a utopian peace becomes stagnant and boring. **In simple terms:** We need motivated, wealthy people to keep the world lively. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of passionate leaders in driving progress. Themes leadership wealth societal dynamics motivation elitism Mood thoughtful critical analytical Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - philanthropy - cultural patronage - community building - creative industries Key Concepts capitalism existential boredom social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance elite initiative with inclusive participation? - What risks arise when only the wealthy drive cultural vitality? A Different Perspective The claim overlooks the value of collective grassroots effort and can marginalize those without wealth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-daughter/) [Carole Charming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carole-charming-3831332/) [Carole Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carole-potter-3831331/) [Free world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-world/) [Like Carole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-carole-1507920/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-want/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) ## Related quotes > [A person like Carole King could make up something, change it, and actually improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-shear/a-person-like-carole-king-could-make-up-something-change-it-and/) [Jules Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-shear/) > [I grew up feeling inspired by people like Carole King, who wrote songs for other people to start her career, and I always thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-rodrigo/i-grew-up-feeling-inspired-by-people-like-carole-king-who-wrote-songs/) [Olivia Rodrigo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-rodrigo/) > [“Eyes Fastened With Pins" How much death works, No one knows what a long Day he puts in. 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As people who have been created by God, we are infinitely precious to Him because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corallie-buchanan/honey-god-loves-you-just-as-you-are-as-people-who-have-been-created/) [Corallie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corallie-buchanan/) ## More by Michael Cunningham > [“Mizzy has wandered into the garden. Carole looks contemplatively at him, says, "Lovely boy." "My wife's insanely younger brother. He's one of those kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/mizzy-has-wandered-into-the-garden-carole-looks-contemplatively-at/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“Zoe loved Trancas's mother. She respected her exhausted and ironic hope for rebirth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/zoe-loved-trancas-s-mother-she-respected-her-exhausted-and-ironic/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [The lives great artists live and the books they write are two very different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/the-lives-great-artists-live-and-the-books-they-write-are-two-very/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“How often since then has she wondered what might have happened if she'd tried to remain with him; if she’d returned Richard's kiss on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/how-often-since-then-has-she-wondered-what-might-have-happened-if-she/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“...a full week of their mother's quiet fury over the fun they don't seem to be having and their father's dogged attempts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/a-full-week-of-their-mother-s-quiet-fury-over-the-fun-they-don-t-seem/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Oh, all you immigrants and visionaries, what do you hope to find here, who do you hope to become?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/oh-all-you-immigrants-and-visionaries-what-do-you-hope-to-find-here/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“She wants to have baked a cake that banishes sorrow, even if only for a little while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/she-wants-to-have-baked-a-cake-that-banishes-sorrow-even-if-only-for/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“And yet, it gives Peter nothing. Not now. Not today. Not when he needs... more. More than this well-executed idea. More than the shark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/and-yet-it-gives-peter-nothing-not-now-not-today-not-when-he-needs/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [He insists on a version of you that is funnier, stranger, more eccentric and prfound thatn you suspect yourself to be--capable of doing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/he-insists-on-a-version-of-you-that-is-funnier-stranger-more/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [The worst are full of passionate intensity while the best lack all conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/the-worst-are-full-of-passionate-intensity-while-the-best-lack-all/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“And here he is, letting the massive steel street door click shut behind him, standing at the top of the three iron steps that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/and-here-he-is-letting-the-massive-steel-street-door-click-shut/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [It's the world, you live in it, even if some boy has made a fool of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/it-s-the-world-you-live-in-it-even-if-some-boy-has-made-a-fool-of-you/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“She's had a long life. Now she's going to the Lord." "Frankly it creeps me out a little when you say things like that,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/she-s-had-a-long-life-now-she-s-going-to-the-lord-frankly-it-creeps/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Any other vexations to report?" he asks. "I love the word 'vexations.'" "It's the 'x.' Nice to jump off a 'v' and bite into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/any-other-vexations-to-report-he-asks-i-love-the-word-vexations-it-s/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Dead, we are revealed in our true dimensions, and they are surprisingly modest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/dead-we-are-revealed-in-our-true-dimensions-and-they-are-surprisingly/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) [Explore all 277 Michael Cunningham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## More Beautiful daughter quotes > [“Honey, God loves you just as you are. As people who have been created by God, we are infinitely precious to Him because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corallie-buchanan/honey-god-loves-you-just-as-you-are-as-people-who-have-been-created/) [Corallie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corallie-buchanan/) > [My favorite thing about motherhood is the outpouring of love that is non-judgmental and beautiful. My daughter just makes me happy, and she motivates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-milian/my-favorite-thing-about-motherhood-is-the-outpouring-of-love-that-is/) [Christina Milian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-milian/) > [“Mind World, she saw everything through Riley’s eyes. 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Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hope-has-two-beautiful-daughters-their-names-are-anger-and-courage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a child, I saw this beautiful film, Dracula's Daughter, and it was with Gloria Holden and was a sequel to the original Dracula.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/as-a-child-i-saw-this-beautiful-film-dracula-s-daughter-and-it-was/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [When you speak it sounds like music to my ears you love is like candy you eyes sparkle like the stars your body is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-speak-it-sounds-like-music-to-my-ears-you-love-is-like-candy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She'd been a beautiful woman in her day, delicate and trim, blue-eyed and fair-haired. 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