--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am afraid that the ordinary citizen…" description: "\"I am afraid that the ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can and do create and destroy money. And they who control the credit of a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/richard-mckenna-57471_afraid_i-am-afraid-that-the-ordinary-citizen-wi_929341.png" --- # I am afraid that the ordinary citizen will not like to be… ![“I am afraid that the ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can and do create and destroy money. And they who control the credit of a nation direct the policy of governments, and hold in the hollow of their hands the destiny of the people.” quote by Richard McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/richard-mckenna-57471_afraid_i-am-afraid-that-the-ordinary-citizen-wi_929341.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/richard-mckenna-57471_afraid_i-am-afraid-that-the-ordinary-citizen-wi_929341.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/richard-mckenna-57471_afraid_i-am-afraid-that-the-ordinary-citizen-wi_929341.png) > “I am afraid that the ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can and do create and destroy money. And they who control the credit of a nation direct the policy of governments, and hold in the hollow of their hands the destiny of the people.” [Richard McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mckenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that ordinary people may resist learning that banks have the power to create and destroy money, and that those controlling credit influence government policy and the fate of the populace. **In simple terms:** Banks control money and power; people may not want to hear it. Key Takeaway Recognize the influence of credit on politics. Themes economics power politics trust financial literacy Mood cautious critical Type analytical political When to use this quote - public policy debates - financial education - political activism - media reporting Key Concepts monetary creation government influence elite control Questions to Reflect On - How does credit control affect everyday life? - What checks exist on financial power? A Different Perspective The statement may overstate the simplicity of credit control and ignore other political forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banks/) [Banks Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banks-create-506968/) [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Destroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroy/) [Destroy Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroy-money-1501472/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold/) [Hollow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollow/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-control-1414628/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Told Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-banks-1501470/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [I am afraid the ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can, and do, create money...And they who control the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-mckenna/i-am-afraid-the-ordinary-citizen-will-not-like-to-be-told-that-the/) [Reginald McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-mckenna/) > [Instability mostly comes from the interface between the fact that the banks (or shadow banks) can create credit, money, and purchasing power in infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/instability-mostly-comes-from-the-interface-between-the-fact-that-the/) [Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/) > [When the banks create the money, they don't create the interest. They send you into the world to compete with everybody else to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lietaer/when-the-banks-create-the-money-they-don-t-create-the-interest-they/) [Bernard Lietaer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lietaer/) > [“Banks do not create money for the public good. They are businesses owned by private shareholders. Their purpose is to make a profit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rogers/banks-do-not-create-money-for-the-public-good-they-are-businesses/) [John Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rogers/) > [The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-process-by-which-banks-create-money-is-so-simple-that-the-mind-is/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [“If they follow the way of Money Chiefs, they shall die. Earth is sick and can no longer care for her children. Now, Earth’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-d-ric-perrin/if-they-follow-the-way-of-money-chiefs-they-shall-die-earth-is-sick/) [Frédéric Perrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fr-d-ric-perrin/) > [True, governments can reduce the rate of interest in the short run. They can issue additional paper money. They can open the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/true-governments-can-reduce-the-rate-of-interest-in-the-short-run/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Commercial banks - that is, fractional reserve banks - create money out of thin air. Essentially, they do it in the same way as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/commercial-banks-that-is-fractional-reserve-banks-create-money-out-of/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [If all the bank loans were paid, no one could have a bank deposit, and there would not be a dollar of coin or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-hemphill/if-all-the-bank-loans-were-paid-no-one-could-have-a-bank-deposit-and/) [Robert W. Hemphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-hemphill/) > [“If all bank loans were paid, no one would have a bank deposit, and there would not be a dollar of currency or coin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-hemphill/if-all-bank-loans-were-paid-no-one-would-have-a-bank-deposit-and/) [Robert H. Hemphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-hemphill/) > [Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money and control credit, and with a flick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-stamp/bankers-own-the-earth-take-it-away-from-them-but-leave-them-the-power/) [Josiah Stamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-stamp/) > [Remember, either you control your money or it will control you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/remember-either-you-control-your-money-or-it-will-control-you/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [The great struggle of history has been for the control over money. It is almost tautological to affirm that to control the production and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/the-great-struggle-of-history-has-been-for-the-control-over-money-it/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Putin recognized that if he could get enough money, everything would be under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/putin-recognized-that-if-he-could-get-enough-money-everything-would/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Money control the world, but not me I control that world in money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kidd-fre-h/money-control-the-world-but-not-me-i-control-that-world-in-money/) [Kidd Fre$h](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kidd-fre-h/) ## More by Richard McKenna > [Each man of us is living his own personal work of art, and cannot evade artistic responsibility for his product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mckenna/each-man-of-us-is-living-his-own-personal-work-of-art-and-cannot/) [Richard McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mckenna/) > [You can't just plain die. You got to do it by the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mckenna/you-can-t-just-plain-die-you-got-to-do-it-by-the-book/) [Richard McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mckenna/) > [My early book learning came to me as naturally as the seasons in … the little town in which I grew up. … Quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mckenna/my-early-book-learning-came-to-me-as-naturally-as-the-seasons-in-the/) [Richard McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mckenna/) > [Being dead is being weak and walled off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mckenna/being-dead-is-being-weak-and-walled-off/) [Richard McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mckenna/) > [The way to get killed around machinery was to take things for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mckenna/the-way-to-get-killed-around-machinery-was-to-take-things-for-granted/) [Richard McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mckenna/) [Explore all 6 Richard McKenna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mckenna/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. 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But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am afraid that the ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can and do create and destroy money. 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