--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' were…" description: "\"If Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' were alive today, he would recognize the ethic that has informed capitalist and communist countries alike - economic g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/susannah-york-39053_alive_if-ibsen-s-enemy-of-the-people-were-aliv_448418.jpg" --- # If Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' were alive today, he… ![“If Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' were alive today, he would recognize the ethic that has informed capitalist and communist countries alike - economic growth before public health and well-being. The true enemies of the people ar those who continue to sacrifice our long-term interests for short-term…” quote by Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/susannah-york-39053_alive_if-ibsen-s-enemy-of-the-people-were-aliv_448418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/susannah-york-39053_alive_if-ibsen-s-enemy-of-the-people-were-aliv_448418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/susannah-york-39053_alive_if-ibsen-s-enemy-of-the-people-were-aliv_448418.jpg) > “If Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' were alive today, he would recognize the ethic that has informed capitalist and communist countries alike - economic growth before public health and well-being. The true enemies of the people ar those who continue to sacrifice our long-term interests for short-term gains. But perhaps we should all look in the mirror.” [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic priorities often override public health, creating long‑term harm for short‑term profit. **In simple terms:** Growth vs. health conflict. Key Takeaway Balance profit with public welfare. Themes economics public health ethics Mood critical thought‑provoking Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - corporate decisions - environmental planning Key Concepts capitalism communism short‑termism Questions to Reflect On - What policies could align profit with health? - How can societies value long‑term wellbeing? A Different Perspective Short‑term gains can cause irreversible damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Economic growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-growth/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Live for today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-today/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Public health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-health/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) ## Related quotes > [We should look at how "the enemy" - people that you wouldn't necessarily agree with - have done change and see whether there's bits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/we-should-look-at-how-the-enemy-people-that-you-wouldn-t-necessarily/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [I fought in Korea, front line. I knew who the enemy were. The enemy were the people who were firing at me. And shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/i-fought-in-korea-front-line-i-knew-who-the-enemy-were-the-enemy-were/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [ “Our enemy is \[. . .\] and all people like him, who never question their motives or doubt their desires. They are put on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rivers/our-enemy-is-and-all-people-like-him-who-never-question-their-motives/) Susan Rivers > [Well I think we can't avoid covering the news and when the president says something like that you're the enemy of the people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-acosta/well-i-think-we-can-t-avoid-covering-the-news-and-when-the-president/) [Jim Acosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-acosta/) > [There hasn't been peace on earth because people can't seem to figure out that the real enemy is the people .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/there-hasn-t-been-peace-on-earth-because-people-can-t-seem-to-figure/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Ignorance is ultimately the worst enemy of a people who want to be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-hennessey/ignorance-is-ultimately-the-worst-enemy-of-a-people-who-want-to-be/) Jonathan Hennessey > [North Korea publicly denounced me as an enemy of my people and punished all my relatives. They have this guilty by association policy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-publicly-denounced-me-as-an-enemy-of-my-people-and/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [“We are in a battle this side of heaven, there's no doubt about it. But in the midst of that battl the church has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-merrick/we-are-in-a-battle-this-side-of-heaven-there-s-no-doubt-about-it-but/) [Britt Merrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-merrick/) > [The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/the-real-enemy-of-my-people-is-here-i-will-not-disgrace-my-religion/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [To say that they are the enemy of the people, among the worst human beings on earth, it encourages and legitimizes an anger towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/to-say-that-they-are-the-enemy-of-the-people-among-the-worst-human/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [And I think people who sort of glibly say, 'Well, you know, they're not going to handle security, UAE is a great ally,' four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/and-i-think-people-who-sort-of-glibly-say-well-you-know-they-re-not/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [You know what I did? I turned down an offer to do 'Enemy of the People' with Steve McQueen. It doesn't matter that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ladd/you-know-what-i-did-i-turned-down-an-offer-to-do-enemy-of-the-people/) [Diane Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ladd/) > [You are your own enemy not the people around you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitsune/you-are-your-own-enemy-not-the-people-around-you/) [Kitsune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitsune/) > [Some people tried to hurt us to protect themselves, their family and communities...This was one of the consequences of civil war. People stopped trusting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-beah/some-people-tried-to-hurt-us-to-protect-themselves-their-family-and/) [Ishmael Beah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-beah/) > [I called the fake news "the enemy of the people" - and they are. They are the enemy of the people. Because they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-called-the-fake-news-the-enemy-of-the-people-and-they-are-they-are/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Susannah York > [Men find it difficult because I've got so much energy and hardly sleep at night, only four or five hours. I wake up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/men-find-it-difficult-because-i-ve-got-so-much-energy-and-hardly/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [I was brought up in Scotland and have always been a country person, although the town means a great deal to me, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/i-was-brought-up-in-scotland-and-have-always-been-a-country-person/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [The things that make me very angry are injustice and bullying. If I see someone bullying a woman or child in the street, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/the-things-that-make-me-very-angry-are-injustice-and-bullying-if-i/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [Ive struggled so hard to reign in my temper because it actually terrifies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/ive-struggled-so-hard-to-reign-in-my-temper-because-it-actually/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [A relationship is lovely if you're happy, comfortable in it and you really like the person. I can think of nothing better. But there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/a-relationship-is-lovely-if-you-re-happy-comfortable-in-it-and-you/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [Acting and writing go together. Actors write because they love words and becoming other people - we love to escape into other characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/acting-and-writing-go-together-actors-write-because-they-love-words/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [I've struggled so hard to reign in my temper because it actually terrifies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/i-ve-struggled-so-hard-to-reign-in-my-temper-because-it-actually/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [I feel I'd like to share my luck and my life. Being in love is the best thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/i-feel-i-d-like-to-share-my-luck-and-my-life-being-in-love-is-the/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [Someone had told me about a house in Wandsworth, southwest London - 21 Blenkarne Road - with an incredible garden, so I went and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/someone-had-told-me-about-a-house-in-wandsworth-southwest-london-21/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) > [Seeing the family is a very important part of my weekend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-york/seeing-the-family-is-a-very-important-part-of-my-weekend/) [Susannah York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) [Explore all 11 Susannah York quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-york/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' were alive today, he would recognize the ethic that has informed capitalist and communist countries alike - economic growth before public health and well-being. The true enemies of the people ar those who continue to sacrifice our long-term interests for short-term gains. 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