--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’d thought it strange, after the…" description: "\"“I’d thought it strange, after the financial crisis, in which Goldman had played such an important role, that the only Goldman Sachs employee who had b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/michael-lewis-705_customer_i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financi_764181.jpg" --- # I’d thought it strange, after the financial crisis, in… ![“I’d thought it strange, after the financial crisis, in which Goldman had played such an important role, that the only Goldman Sachs employee who had been charged with any sort of crime was the employee who had taken something from Goldman Sachs.” quote by Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/michael-lewis-705_customer_i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financi_764181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/michael-lewis-705_customer_i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financi_764181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/michael-lewis-705_customer_i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financi_764181.jpg) > ““I’d thought it strange, after the financial crisis, in which Goldman had played such an important role, that the only Goldman Sachs employee who had been charged with any sort of crime was the employee who had taken something from Goldman Sachs.”” [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## 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 highlights the irony that despite Goldman Sachs’ central role in the crisis, only a low‑level employee faced criminal charges, suggesting systemic accountability gaps. **In simple terms:** Only a low‑level employee was charged despite Goldman’s role. Key Takeaway Recognize systemic accountability gaps. Themes accountability finance justice Mood critical skeptical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - financial regulation - corporate governance - public trust - media scrutiny Key Concepts systemic risk legal enforcement Questions to Reflect On - How can systemic accountability be enforced? - What reforms could prevent similar gaps? A Different Perspective Legal outcomes often focus on individuals, not institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Financial crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-crisis/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [“Thus the only Goldman Sachs employee arrested by the FBI in the aftermath of a financial crisis Goldman had done so much to fuel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/thus-the-only-goldman-sachs-employee-arrested-by-the-fbi-in-the/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“Germans longed to be near shit, but not in it. This, as it turns out, is an excellent description of their role in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/germans-longed-to-be-near-shit-but-not-in-it-this-as-it-turns-out-is/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“Upset over having deceived her sister, her failure as a prostitute, and the tension in waiting for Berkman to make his move, Goldman walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgrath-morris/upset-over-having-deceived-her-sister-her-failure-as-a-prostitute-and/) [James McGrath Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgrath-morris/) > [I work very closely with Steve Bannon. Frankly, people should look at the full resume. He's got a Harvard Business degree, a naval officer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/i-work-very-closely-with-steve-bannon-frankly-people-should-look-at/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [If you like what Wall Street did for the housing market, you'll love what Wall Street is doing for commodities. Goldman's ability to influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/if-you-like-what-wall-street-did-for-the-housing-market-you-ll-love/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Regulators all meet with Goldman Sachs executives and employees day after day after day. They don't see the people who get tricked, the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/regulators-all-meet-with-goldman-sachs-executives-and-employees-day/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I get really, really concerned when I see somebody, taking $600,000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs, will not release what they're actually saying.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/i-get-really-really-concerned-when-i-see-somebody-taking-600-000-in/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [Today's national income statistics make it appear that Goldman Sachs is productive. As if Donald Trump plays a productive role. The aim is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/today-s-national-income-statistics-make-it-appear-that-goldman-sachs/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [“But the question is, historically, part of the group that you're a part of - whether it's racial, gender, religious, whatever - how has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-applebaum/but-the-question-is-historically-part-of-the-group-that-you-re-a-part/) Jacob Applebaum > [“The first thing you need to know about Goldman Sachs is that it's everywhere. The world's most powerful investment bank is a great vampire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/the-first-thing-you-need-to-know-about-goldman-sachs-is-that-it-s/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [You want to know who owns America? A few at the top. And they've got one thing on their mind. No change. Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-roemer/you-want-to-know-who-owns-america-a-few-at-the-top-and-they-ve-got/) Buddy Roemer > [I understand Goldman Sachs businesses. We do lot of business with him, and GE has been - I think it's the longest running stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-understand-goldman-sachs-businesses-we-do-lot-of-business-with-him/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Barack Obama's large contributor was Goldman Sachs - same thing on the Republican side. If you go to both their conventions, you see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/barack-obama-s-large-contributor-was-goldman-sachs-same-thing-on-the/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I've heard that one-half of the students at elite schools want to go into private equity or hedge funds. They want to keep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-ve-heard-that-one-half-of-the-students-at-elite-schools-want-to-go/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“Goldman laid low until the 1927 executions of anarchists and convicted bank robbers Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti stirred her back into action. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgrath-morris/goldman-laid-low-until-the-1927-executions-of-anarchists-and/) [James McGrath Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgrath-morris/) ## More by Michael Lewis > [“Crucial decisions are made, today as thousands of years ago, in terms of the intuitive guesses and preferences of a few men in positions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/crucial-decisions-are-made-today-as-thousands-of-years-ago-in-terms/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“You saw someone who reminded you of you, and then you looked for the reasons why you liked him. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/you-saw-someone-who-reminded-you-of-you-and-then-you-looked-for-the/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“At other places management says, ‘Well, gee, fellas, do we really want to bet the ranch on this deal?’ Lewie was not only willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/at-other-places-management-says-well-gee-fellas-do-we-really-want-to/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“BILLY WOULD SAY later that his wife left him because she was unnerved by his intensity—that she could even see it in his hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/billy-would-say-later-that-his-wife-left-him-because-she-was-unnerved/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“The great thing about baseball players, from the point of view of personal hygiene, is how seldom they break a sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-great-thing-about-baseball-players-from-the-point-of-view-of/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [There was but one question he left unasked, and it vibrated between his lines: if gross miscalculations of a person's value could occur on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/there-was-but-one-question-he-left-unasked-and-it-vibrated-between/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“The author refers to a player's affected nonchalance and comments he is, "too young to realize you are what you pretend to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-author-refers-to-a-player-s-affected-nonchalance-and-comments-he/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [A banking system is an act of faith: it survives only for as long as people believe it will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/a-banking-system-is-an-act-of-faith-it-survives-only-for-as-long-as/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [Some coaches believed they could judge a player's performance simply by watching it. In this they were deeply mistaken. The naked eye was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/some-coaches-believed-they-could-judge-a-player-s-performance-simply/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“No longer were the prices of ordinary mortgage bonds allowed to roam inefficiently, for they were now linked to the CMO market, in much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/no-longer-were-the-prices-of-ordinary-mortgage-bonds-allowed-to-roam/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“The difference between Strauss and Ranieri?” says one trader still at Salomon. “That’s easy. Strauss wouldn’t stoop to use the men’s room on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-difference-between-strauss-and-ranieri-says-one-trader-still-at/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“The only inexplicable aspect of the process was that economic theory (which is, after all, what economics students were supposed to know) served almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-only-inexplicable-aspect-of-the-process-was-that-economic-theory/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“It's not easy to stand apart from mass hysteria - to believe that most of what's in the financial news is wrong, to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/it-s-not-easy-to-stand-apart-from-mass-hysteria-to-believe-that-most/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“Dont worry about where i am , i'll let you know when i get there .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/dont-worry-about-where-i-am-i-ll-let-you-know-when-i-get-there/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“Someone out there was using the fact that stock market orders arrived at different times at different exchanges to front-run orders from one market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/someone-out-there-was-using-the-fact-that-stock-market-orders-arrived/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) [Explore all 398 Michael Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## More Customer quotes > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/) Michael Fishman > [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The exact details of how you practice value investing will vary investor to investor, but the fundamental principle of scouring the world, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/the-exact-details-of-how-you-practice-value-investing-will-vary/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [The best way to hold customers is to constantly figure out how to give them more for less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/the-best-way-to-hold-customers-is-to-constantly-figure-out-how-to/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [Perhaps the most important reason to be skeptical of government inflation numbers is that the government, like a fox campaigning to guard a hen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-to-be-skeptical-of-government/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I believe confusion is good. Worldwide market leaders gain when there is confusion in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhash-chandra/i-believe-confusion-is-good-worldwide-market-leaders-gain-when-there/) [Subhash Chandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhash-chandra/) > [Damn inflation, full speed ahead,' Greenspan has said in both action and word. I think an investor should believe him and invest accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gross/damn-inflation-full-speed-ahead-greenspan-has-said-in-both-action-and/) [Bill Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gross/) > [“When companies get big, they devote most of their care and feeding to the business that got them big. This is as it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/when-companies-get-big-they-devote-most-of-their-care-and-feeding-to/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 9,257 Customer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’d thought it strange, after the financial crisis, in which Goldman had played such an important role, that the only Goldman Sachs employee who had been charged with any sort of crime was the employee who had taken something from Goldman Sachs.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financial-crisis-in-which-goldman/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Customer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financial-crisis-in-which-goldman/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/michael-lewis-705_customer_i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financi_764181.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/michael-lewis-705_customer_i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financi_764181.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/michael-lewis-705_customer_i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financi_764181.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I’d thought it strange, after the financial crisis, in which Goldman had played such an important role, that…” — Michael Lewis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I’d thought it strange, after the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financial-crisis-in-which-goldman/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/i-d-thought-it-strange-after-the-financial-crisis-in-which-goldman/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```