--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can make even a parrot into a learned…" description: "\"You can make even a parrot into a learned political economist - all he must learn are the two words \"supply\" and \"demand.\"\" — Thomas Carlyle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/thomas-carlyle-207_demand_you-can-make-even-a-parrot-into-a-learne_849770.png" --- # You can make even a parrot into a learned political… ![“You can make even a parrot into a learned political economist - all he must learn are the two words "supply" and "demand."” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/thomas-carlyle-207_demand_you-can-make-even-a-parrot-into-a-learne_849770.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/thomas-carlyle-207_demand_you-can-make-even-a-parrot-into-a-learne_849770.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/thomas-carlyle-207_demand_you-can-make-even-a-parrot-into-a-learne_849770.png) > “You can make even a parrot into a learned political economist - all he must learn are the two words "supply" and "demand."” [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A parrot can be trained to repeat complex economic terms, highlighting how simple concepts can be taught to anyone. **In simple terms:** Simple concepts can be taught to anyone. Key Takeaway Teach basic ideas clearly. Themes education economics communication Mood playful critical Type humorous didactic When to use this quote - classroom - public speaking - media training - political debate Key Concepts behaviorism learning theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure depth when teaching basics? - What risks arise from reducing economics to slogans? A Different Perspective Complex ideas may be oversimplified, losing nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Economist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economist/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Supply and demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supply-and-demand/) ## Related quotes > [Supply and demand eventually rebalance. We've seen this again and again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-gorman/supply-and-demand-eventually-rebalance-we-ve-seen-this-again-and/) [James P. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-gorman/) > [Supply and demand regulate architectural form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/supply-and-demand-regulate-architectural-form/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Capitalism does millions of things better than the alternatives. It balances supply and demand in an elegant way that central planning has never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-grantham/capitalism-does-millions-of-things-better-than-the-alternatives-it/) [Jeremy Grantham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-grantham/) > [We are going to continue to run a business, and we are going to continue to meet the supply and demand that's out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/we-are-going-to-continue-to-run-a-business-and-we-are-going-to/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [A shortage is a sign that somebody is keeping the price artificially lower than it would be if supply and demand were allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/a-shortage-is-a-sign-that-somebody-is-keeping-the-price-artificially/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The laws of supply and demand drive up the price, inevitably, over time. But solar and wind are abundant and renewable resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/the-laws-of-supply-and-demand-drive-up-the-price-inevitably-over-time/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [We are headed toward 'perfect capitalism,' when the laws of supply and demand become exact, because everyone knows everything about a product, service or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/we-are-headed-toward-perfect-capitalism-when-the-laws-of-supply-and/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [The opinions that the price of commodities depends solely on the proportion of supply and demand, or demand to supply, has become almost an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/the-opinions-that-the-price-of-commodities-depends-solely-on-the/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [The price of ability does not depend on merit but on supply and demand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-price-of-ability-does-not-depend-on-merit-but-on-supply-and-demand/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The equilibrium between supply and demand is achieved only through a reaction against the upsetting of the equilibrium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-equilibrium-between-supply-and-demand-is-achieved-only-through-a/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [“Basic economic theory tells us that if you want something that’s both rare and valuable, you need something rare and valuable to offer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/basic-economic-theory-tells-us-that-if-you-want-something-that-s-both/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Food is a product of supply and demand, so try to figure out where the supplies are fresh, the suppliers are creative, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/food-is-a-product-of-supply-and-demand-so-try-to-figure-out-where-the/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [All I ever did was supply a demand that was pretty popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/all-i-ever-did-was-supply-a-demand-that-was-pretty-popular/) [Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/) > [Be yourself on stage. Nobody else can be you and you have the law of supply and demand covered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/be-yourself-on-stage-nobody-else-can-be-you-and-you-have-the-law-of/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [The market insures that any quantity of money is capable of performing all the work required of a medium of exchange by adjusting its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-salerno/the-market-insures-that-any-quantity-of-money-is-capable-of/) Joseph Salerno ## More by Thomas Carlyle > [O thou that pinest in the imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods for a kingdom wherein to rule and create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-that-pinest-in-the-imprisonment-of-the-actual-and-criest/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-glory-of-a-workman-still-more-of-a-master-workman-that-he-does/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Insurrection, never so necessary, is a most sad necessity; and governors who wait for that to instruct them are surely getting into the fatalest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/insurrection-never-so-necessary-is-a-most-sad-necessity-and-governors/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [What is philosophy but a continual battle against custom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-is-philosophy-but-a-continual-battle-against-custom/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! Let Time and Chance combine! The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Thought will not work except in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/thought-will-not-work-except-in-silence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The public is anold woman.Let her maunderand mumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-public-is-anold-woman-let-her-maunderand-mumble/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Does not every true man feel that he is himself made higher by doing reverence to what is really above him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-not-every-true-man-feel-that-he-is-himself-made-higher-by-doing/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) [Explore all 917 Thomas Carlyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## More Demand quotes > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-be-greater-than-your-feelings-i-don-t-demand-this-of-you-life/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Money should be ones demand and command one should not become slave of money..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/money-should-be-ones-demand-and-command-one-should-not-become-slave/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. 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