--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the moral calculus of currently…" description: "\"In the moral calculus of currently prevailing state capitalism, profits and bonuses in the next quarter greatly outweigh concern for the welfare of one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/noam-chomsky-42_apathy_in-the-moral-calculus-of-currently-preva_1128486.jpg" --- # In the moral calculus of currently prevailing state… ![“In the moral calculus of currently prevailing state capitalism, profits and bonuses in the next quarter greatly outweigh concern for the welfare of one’s grandchildren, and since these are institutional maladies, they will not be easy to overcome. While much remains uncertain, we can assure…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/noam-chomsky-42_apathy_in-the-moral-calculus-of-currently-preva_1128486.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/noam-chomsky-42_apathy_in-the-moral-calculus-of-currently-preva_1128486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/noam-chomsky-42_apathy_in-the-moral-calculus-of-currently-preva_1128486.jpg) > “In the moral calculus of currently prevailing state capitalism, profits and bonuses in the next quarter greatly outweigh concern for the welfare of one’s grandchildren, and since these are institutional maladies, they will not be easy to overcome. While much remains uncertain, we can assure ourselves, with fair confidence, that future generations will not forgive us our silence and apathy.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Short‑term profit motives dominate, endangering future generations and moral responsibility. **In simple terms:** Profit outweighs care for grandchildren. Key Takeaway Prioritize long‑term welfare over immediate gains. Themes economics ethics intergenerational justice Mood critical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - government budgeting - family financial planning - activism Key Concepts capitalism moral calculus policy failure Questions to Reflect On - What policies could align profit with future welfare? - How can individuals act responsibly within a profit‑driven system? A Different Perspective Economic pressures can outweigh ethical concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Calculus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculus/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Future generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-generation/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Grandchildren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandchildren/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) ## Related quotes > [We can't exempt ourselves from the same moral calculus that we are willing to apply to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/we-can-t-exempt-ourselves-from-the-same-moral-calculus-that-we-are/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Bear in mind that capitalism is a tiny period of human society. You never really had capitalism, you always had one or another variant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/bear-in-mind-that-capitalism-is-a-tiny-period-of-human-society-you/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We had one or another form of state capitalism during an extremely brief period of human history, which tells us essentially nothing about human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-had-one-or-another-form-of-state-capitalism-during-an-extremely/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“First of all, we've never had capitalism, so it can't end. We have some variety of state capitalism. If you fly on an airplane,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/first-of-all-we-ve-never-had-capitalism-so-it-can-t-end-we-have-some/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [A basic principal of modern state capitalism is that costs and risks are socialized to the extent possible, while profit is privatized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-basic-principal-of-modern-state-capitalism-is-that-costs-and-risks/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [...dissent, protest, presures of a wide variety that escape elite control can modify the calculus of costs of planners, and offer a slight hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/dissent-protest-presures-of-a-wide-variety-that-escape-elite-control/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If the Russians claim they are Socialist, this is just, I would say, a lie. They have no socialism at all. They have what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/if-the-russians-claim-they-are-socialist-this-is-just-i-would-say-a/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [What better metaphor for the subliminal state than capitalism? This whole notion that you're trying to do good and make things good for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-pallett/what-better-metaphor-for-the-subliminal-state-than-capitalism-this/) [Owen Pallett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-pallett/) > [“Marxian Socialism or state Capitalism, no doubt is the irrefutable paragon of what is a coveting and thus corrupt disposition. For Whatmore could possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryavesh-rothmensch/marxian-socialism-or-state-capitalism-no-doubt-is-the-irrefutable/) [Daryavesh Rothmensch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryavesh-rothmensch/) > [State capitalism is about more than emergency government spending, implementation of more intelligent regulation, or a stronger social safety net. It's about state dominance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/state-capitalism-is-about-more-than-emergency-government-spending/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [I will realize more robust growth, countering intense challenges posed by an economic system operating under what can be described as state capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/i-will-realize-more-robust-growth-countering-intense-challenges-posed/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [If we add state capitalism to the Bush administration's success in eroding both the US Constitution and the power of Congress, we may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-we-add-state-capitalism-to-the-bush-administration-s-success-in/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [From the viewpoint of economic democracy, the capitalism-socialism debate was a debate between private and state capitalism (i.e., the private or public employment system),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-p-ellerman/from-the-viewpoint-of-economic-democracy-the-capitalism-socialism/) David P. Ellerman > [When you say 'state' you mean 'national.' National Socialism. That is what Mussolini and Hitler did. National Socialism. State Capitalism. They've changed the name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/when-you-say-state-you-mean-national-national-socialism-that-is-what/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [The elimination of individual capitalists and the replacement of private capitalism by state capitalism in Russia has not in the least altered the typical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/the-elimination-of-individual-capitalists-and-the-replacement-of/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [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/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Apathy quotes > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) [Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the moral calculus of currently prevailing state capitalism, profits and bonuses in the next quarter greatly outweigh concern for the welfare of one’s grandchildren, and since these are institutional maladies, they will not be easy to overcome. 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