--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Caterpillar has become a symbol of the…" description: "\"Caterpillar has become a symbol of the growing divergence in corporate America between profits and wages.\" — Mina Kimes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/mina-kimes-19878_america_caterpillar-has-become-a-symbol-of-the-g_1933489.jpg" --- # Caterpillar has become a symbol of the growing divergence… ![“Caterpillar has become a symbol of the growing divergence in corporate America between profits and wages.” quote by Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/mina-kimes-19878_america_caterpillar-has-become-a-symbol-of-the-g_1933489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/mina-kimes-19878_america_caterpillar-has-become-a-symbol-of-the-g_1933489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/mina-kimes-19878_america_caterpillar-has-become-a-symbol-of-the-g_1933489.jpg) > “Caterpillar has become a symbol of the growing divergence in corporate America between profits and wages.” [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corporate profit growth often outpaces wage growth, widening economic inequality. **In simple terms:** Profits rise while wages lag. Key Takeaway Address wage‑profit imbalance. Themes economics inequality corporate culture Mood analytical concerned Type economic political When to use this quote - policy making - employee negotiations - business strategy - public discourse Key Concepts Labor value capital distribution Questions to Reflect On - How can companies align profit with fair wages? - What policies reduce profit‑wage gaps? A Different Perspective Profit focus can erode workforce morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Caterpillar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caterpillar/) [Corporate america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate-america/) ## Related quotes > [In January 2012, Caterpillar locked out union workers at a locomotive factory in Ontario after they rejected a pay cut of about 50 percent;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/in-january-2012-caterpillar-locked-out-union-workers-at-a-locomotive/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [Although Caterpillar has fought vigorously against writing guaranteed pay increases into its contracts - and won, every time - it does offer market-based wage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/although-caterpillar-has-fought-vigorously-against-writing-guaranteed/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [I would love to have access to a company like Caterpillar. I would make all their stuff remote controlled and work ten times as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hyneman/i-would-love-to-have-access-to-a-company-like-caterpillar-i-would/) [Jamie Hyneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hyneman/) > [“There will never be another caterpillar just like this one. there will never be another such moment of time, another such conjunction. These things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-will-never-be-another-caterpillar-just-like-this-one-there-will/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Proverb: The caterpillar thought the world was ending, then it turned into a butterfly,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-phair/proverb-the-caterpillar-thought-the-world-was-ending-then-it-turned/) Marian Phair > [Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction equipment, so of course we want contractors to choose our equipment for projects. But our immediate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/caterpillar-is-the-world-s-leading-manufacturer-of-construction/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) > [“Did you know that a caterpillar has 228 separate and distinct muscles in its head?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/did-you-know-that-a-caterpillar-has-228-separate-and-distinct-muscles/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The three states of the caterpillar, larva, and butterfly have, since the time of the Greek poets, been applied to typify the human being,--its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/the-three-states-of-the-caterpillar-larva-and-butterfly-have-since/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [“A butterfly is a caterpillar who never gave up on his dream to fly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-butterfly-is-a-caterpillar-who-never-gave-up-on-his-dream-to-fly/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [What the caterpillar calls the end the rest of the world calls a butterfly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/what-the-caterpillar-calls-the-end-the-rest-of-the-world-calls-a/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Helping the caterpillar can sometimes kill the butterfly. You can’t fight their darkness for them, but you can make sure they don't face it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-edward-lee-miller/helping-the-caterpillar-can-sometimes-kill-the-butterfly-you-can-t/) [Cody Edward Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-edward-lee-miller/) > [“Caterpillar sheds it's skin to find a butterfly within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-leitch/caterpillar-sheds-it-s-skin-to-find-a-butterfly-within/) Donovan Leitch > [Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/just-when-the-caterpillar-thought-the-world-was-over-it-became-a/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“The most beautiful of butterflies is nothing but a well-dressed caterpillar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corina-abdulahm-negura/the-most-beautiful-of-butterflies-is-nothing-but-a-well-dressed/) Corina Abdulahm Negura > [Why is Caterpillar bad if we create a new job in India or China to receive U.S. exports? It makes no sense to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/why-is-caterpillar-bad-if-we-create-a-new-job-in-india-or-china-to/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) ## More by Mina Kimes > [Investigative pieces tend to be great stories because they haven't been told before. The process can be frustrating and stressful, but the result is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/investigative-pieces-tend-to-be-great-stories-because-they-haven-t/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [I never really intended to get into sports. It was my hobby and my passion, and I kind of lucked out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/i-never-really-intended-to-get-into-sports-it-was-my-hobby-and-my/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [Although Caterpillar has fought vigorously against writing guaranteed pay increases into its contracts - and won, every time - it does offer market-based wage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/although-caterpillar-has-fought-vigorously-against-writing-guaranteed/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [If I didn't work at ESPN, which I didn't until 2014, I would still be watching a psychotic amount of football for someone that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/if-i-didn-t-work-at-espn-which-i-didn-t-until-2014-i-would-still-be/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [Though dozens of siblings have made it to the NFL, it's rare for two brothers to play at an elite level. The Barbers did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/though-dozens-of-siblings-have-made-it-to-the-nfl-it-s-rare-for-two/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [No one drives through life with blackout windows; most of us are affected, in some way or another, by the love and hate we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/no-one-drives-through-life-with-blackout-windows-most-of-us-are/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [My process varies, but I usually start by reading everything I can, especially financial and legal filings. Then I build a list of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/my-process-varies-but-i-usually-start-by-reading-everything-i-can/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [In January 2012, Caterpillar locked out union workers at a locomotive factory in Ontario after they rejected a pay cut of about 50 percent;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/in-january-2012-caterpillar-locked-out-union-workers-at-a-locomotive/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [I have always found that if I came in excessively prepared, emphasis on excessively, that was sort of the best case I could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/i-have-always-found-that-if-i-came-in-excessively-prepared-emphasis/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [One of the most powerful weapons in the Food and Drug Administration's arsenal is its ability to censure companies that promote drugs for unapproved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/one-of-the-most-powerful-weapons-in-the-food-and-drug-administration/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [I am interested in everything, which sounds like a cop out. Having been a magazine writer, I do not have a beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/i-am-interested-in-everything-which-sounds-like-a-cop-out-having-been/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [Typically, writers meet their subjects at a neutral location - somewhere a publicist has chosen to reveal something about the celebrity, like his taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/typically-writers-meet-their-subjects-at-a-neutral-location-somewhere/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [I've only been living in Los Angeles for three years, but I've already become a huge baby about the cold. The temperature in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/i-ve-only-been-living-in-los-angeles-for-three-years-but-i-ve-already/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [I find my ideas in a number of places - tips, lawsuits, other news stories that raise interesting questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/i-find-my-ideas-in-a-number-of-places-tips-lawsuits-other-news/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [While American ballplayers from Mickey Mantle to David Ortiz have flipped their bats, the act is still perceived as a great offense here -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/while-american-ballplayers-from-mickey-mantle-to-david-ortiz-have/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) [Explore all 32 Mina Kimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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