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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Everyman's Wisdom: Capitalism, socialism, and deadly seriousness

Related Link » Before the Sabbath
“Capitalism is ideally equipped for mastering things but awkward in mastering men. It hugs the assumption that people will perform tolerably well when left to themselves. […] Socialist and communist societies are a throwback to the primitive in their passion for managing men.

Idealists never weary of decrying capitalism for its trivial motivation. Yet a discrepancy between trivial motives and weighty consequences is an essential trait of human uniqueness and is particularly pronounced in the creative individual. Not only in the marketplace and on the battlefield but also in the world of thought and imagination, men who set their hearts on toys often accomplish great things. The idealists prize seriousness and weightiness. Let them go to the animal kingdom! Animals are deadly serious.”
— Eric Hoffer (November 29, 1974)
“I lost my heart to this man. Eric Hoffer was Everyman.”
— Eric Sevareid
As the saying goes, "The more things change ...".

I would gladly send a copy of Hoffer's book (gratis) to The Obama Himself, if there was a snowball's chance in hell He could/would read it with comprehension.

Post #1,223 Everyman's Wisdom: Capitalism, socialism, and deadly seriousness



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