--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The capitalist priority is efficiency of…" description: "\"The capitalist priority is efficiency of capital and profitability, which is generally inconsistent with protecting the vulnerabilities of people and n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/richard-a-falk-8295_capitalist_the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of_1002957.jpg" --- # The capitalist priority is efficiency of capital and… ![“The capitalist priority is efficiency of capital and profitability, which is generally inconsistent with protecting the vulnerabilities of people and nature.” quote by Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/richard-a-falk-8295_capitalist_the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of_1002957.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/richard-a-falk-8295_capitalist_the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of_1002957.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/richard-a-falk-8295_capitalist_the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of_1002957.jpg) > “The capitalist priority is efficiency of capital and profitability, which is generally inconsistent with protecting the vulnerabilities of people and nature.” [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Capitalist focus on profit and efficiency often clashes with protecting people and the environment. **In simple terms:** Profit goals can harm people and nature. Key Takeaway Balance profit with responsibility. Themes economics ethics environment social justice Mood critical concerned Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - policy making - investment decisions Key Concepts sustainability corporate responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can profit be aligned with protection? - What policies can mitigate harm? A Different Perspective Profit motives can override ethical concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/) ## Related quotes > [If I am right in supposing it to be comparatively easy to make capital-goods so abundant that the marginal efficiency of capital is zero,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/if-i-am-right-in-supposing-it-to-be-comparatively-easy-to-make/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [I would argue that search has made the world a better place. It has done so for reasons that arbitrarily could completely change that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-keats/i-would-argue-that-search-has-made-the-world-a-better-place-it-has/) [Jonathon Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-keats/) > [“the real key is to be able to figure out what the average profitability of the business will be over the long term and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pecaut/the-real-key-is-to-be-able-to-figure-out-what-the-average/) [Daniel Pecaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pecaut/) > [Getting to profitability does not mean all our problems are solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/getting-to-profitability-does-not-mean-all-our-problems-are-solved/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [We oppose all corporate welfare, whether we benefit or not. You will find that our policy positions mainly hurt our profitability rather than help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/we-oppose-all-corporate-welfare-whether-we-benefit-or-not-you-will/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [A policy of subsidizing failures will end in an economy strewn with capital-guzzling industries long past their time of profitability - old companies that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gilder/a-policy-of-subsidizing-failures-will-end-in-an-economy-strewn-with/) [George Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gilder/) > [Profitability is a shallow goal if it doesn't have a real purpose, and the purpose has to be share the profits with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/profitability-is-a-shallow-goal-if-it-doesn-t-have-a-real-purpose-and/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [The fact is, there's no single magic number that defines profitability for a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-fils-aime/the-fact-is-there-s-no-single-magic-number-that-defines-profitability/) [Reggie Fils-Aime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-fils-aime/) > [The genius of the economic machine is in its ability to convert these indulgences into profitability. It converts desire into attention, a grip on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gitlin/the-genius-of-the-economic-machine-is-in-its-ability-to-convert-these/) [Todd Gitlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gitlin/) > [Companies should not have a singular view of profitability. There needs to be a balance between commerce and social responsibility... The companies that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/companies-should-not-have-a-singular-view-of-profitability-there/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [The success of the Starbucks has been based on this balance between profitability and a social conscience. Everywhere we're doing business, were trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/the-success-of-the-starbucks-has-been-based-on-this-balance-between/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I don't care about awards and public image. We know the business of entertainment. We worship our work, we worship our clients and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailender-singh/i-don-t-care-about-awards-and-public-image-we-know-the-business-of/) [Shailender Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailender-singh/) > [We set no volume goals in our insurance business generally-and certainly not in reinsurance-as virtually any volume can be achieved if profitability standards are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-set-no-volume-goals-in-our-insurance-business-generally-and/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Competition on dimensions other than price - on product features, support services, delivery time, or brand image, for instance - is less likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-porter/competition-on-dimensions-other-than-price-on-product-features/) [Michael E. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-porter/) ## More by Richard A. Falk > [There are degrees of incompatibility, and there are more factors relevant to upholding democracy and human rights than the operation of neoliberal markets. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/there-are-degrees-of-incompatibility-and-there-are-more-factors/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [Cumulatively, American society is sliding toward a new form of 'authoritarian democracy'. Elections continue, free speech is generally protected, institutions operate in accordance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/cumulatively-american-society-is-sliding-toward-a-new-form-of/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [Historically, international law lent a measure of legality to the colonial system, and allowed the West to set the rules for participation as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/historically-international-law-lent-a-measure-of-legality-to-the/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [Nothing is more important than restoring a high degree of autonomy to educational experiences so that those who grow up in this society and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/nothing-is-more-important-than-restoring-a-high-degree-of-autonomy-to/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [In the Goldstone Report, Israeli perpetrators of possible crimes against humanity were made subject to prosecution and punishment, although the geopolitical leverage of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/in-the-goldstone-report-israeli-perpetrators-of-possible-crimes/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [The UDHR has become an iconic document over the course of more than six decades, the starting point for discussions of whether or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-udhr-has-become-an-iconic-document-over-the-course-of-more-than/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [International law in its counter-hegemonic uses is very important in any domain where issues of legitimacy are significant, but is rarely able to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/international-law-in-its-counter-hegemonic-uses-is-very-important-in/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [The atmosphere of fear and security manipulated by the government has converted American citizens into terrorist suspects who are all subject to arbitrary and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-atmosphere-of-fear-and-security-manipulated-by-the-government-has/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [What both the state and the capitalist economy oppose is an understanding of what might be called "the true nature of things" (using the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/what-both-the-state-and-the-capitalist-economy-oppose-is-an/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [The fact that Universal Jurisdiction exists in relation to serious international crimes does convey two important aspects of the global reality: first, that such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-fact-that-universal-jurisdiction-exists-in-relation-to-serious/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [The weaknesses and biases of the international mechanisms of accountability make it seem desirable to extend the domain of accountability by empowering domestic courts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-weaknesses-and-biases-of-the-international-mechanisms-of/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [As matters now stand, the veto seems inappropriate, given the absence of any deep ideological split between major states, and definitely constrains the war-prevention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/as-matters-now-stand-the-veto-seems-inappropriate-given-the-absence/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [It should be appreciated that this whole effort to hold leaders of states criminally responsible is a rather radical challenge to territorial sovereignty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/it-should-be-appreciated-that-this-whole-effort-to-hold-leaders-of/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [If Trump were to go ahead with a renewed policy of hostility toward Iran, it would immediately raise tensions, and could quickly escalate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/if-trump-were-to-go-ahead-with-a-renewed-policy-of-hostility-toward/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [Looking more deeply at the emergence of ISIS or the chaos that exists in Syria, Yemen and Libya would clearly raise crucial doubts about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/looking-more-deeply-at-the-emergence-of-isis-or-the-chaos-that-exists/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) [Explore all 82 Richard A. Falk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) ## More Capitalism quotes > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [The free market is ugly and stupid, like going to the mall; the unfree market is just as ugly and just as stupid, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-free-market-is-ugly-and-stupid-like-going-to-the-mall-the-unfree/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Socialism is humanity's second nature. All politicians do is turn human vice into votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/socialism-is-humanity-s-second-nature-all-politicians-do-is-turn/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [“Scholars have long debated whether capital markets lead to appropriate levels of saving and investment for future generations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-weimer/scholars-have-long-debated-whether-capital-markets-lead-to/) David L. Weimer > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 3,832 Capitalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The capitalist priority is efficiency of capital and profitability, which is generally inconsistent with protecting the vulnerabilities of people and nature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard A. Falk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of-capital-and-profitability/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capitalism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of-capital-and-profitability/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/richard-a-falk-8295_capitalist_the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of_1002957.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/richard-a-falk-8295_capitalist_the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of_1002957.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/richard-a-falk-8295_capitalist_the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of_1002957.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The capitalist priority is efficiency of capital and profitability, which is generally inconsistent with…” — Richard A. Falk", "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": "Richard A. Falk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The capitalist priority is efficiency of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of-capital-and-profitability/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-capitalist-priority-is-efficiency-of-capital-and-profitability/#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 } } ] } ```