Capitalism Quote by Noam Chomsky
““It [predatory capitalism] is incapable of meeting human needs that can be expressed only in collective terms, and its concept of competitive man who seeks only to maximize wealth and power, who subjects himself to market relationships, to exploitation and external authority, is antihuman and intolerable in the deepest sense.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on capitalism, 2015
Capitalism focused on competition and profit cannot satisfy needs that require collective action, making it fundamentally dehumanizing.
In simple terms: Competitive capitalism fails collective needs.
Recognize limits of market‑only solutions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy design
- community organizing
- labor negotiations
- public health planning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance market incentives with collective welfare?
- What alternatives address both wealth and human dignity?
Ignores cooperation and shared responsibility.