Captains of industry Quote by Muhammad Asad
““The Average Occidental- be he a democrat or a Fascist, a Capitalist or a Bolshevik, a manual worker or an intellectual- knows only one positive "religion", and that is the worship of material progress, the belief that there is no other goal in life than to make that very life continually easier or, as the current expression goes, "independent of nature". The temples of this "religion" are the gigantic factories, cinemas, chemical laboratories, dancing halls, hydro- electric works; and its priests are bankers, engineers,film stars, captains of industry, record-airmen. The unavoidable result of this craving after power and pleasure is the creation of hostile groups armed to the teeth and determined to destroy each other whenever their respective interests come to clash. And on the cultural side the result is the creation of a human type whose morality is confined to the question of practical utility alone, and whose highest criterion of good and evil is material progress.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Road to Mecca by Muhammad Asad, 1954
The quote critiques modern society’s single‑minded devotion to material progress, treating it as a religion that values convenience and power over deeper moral concerns.
In simple terms: Society worships material progress above all else.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance material goals with ethical values.
Themes
materialism
progress
morality
power
conflict
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- corporate strategy
- environmental policy
- education reform
- personal development
Key Concepts
secularism
consumerism
technological determinism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does material progress affect our moral choices?
- Can societies thrive without sacrificing ethical depth?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks spiritual and ecological dimensions that also shape human well‑being.
