Banking Quote by Woodrow Wilson
“I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world - no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to Congress, 1919
The concentration of credit in a few hands undermines democratic governance, leading to oligarchic control and loss of public voice.
In simple terms: Few control money, so they control government.
Advocate for financial decentralization.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- public awareness
- financial education
- citizen activism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can limit credit concentration?
- How can citizens reclaim influence over economic policy?
Changing entrenched financial interests is extremely difficult.