The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor - not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Einstein blames capitalist economic anarchy and the root of evil, where producers compete unfairly within legal rules.
- In plain terms
- He thought capitalism caused people to steal each other's work legally.
- What can you take from it?
- Question whether current economic rules create unfair competition.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does capitalism encourage theft of value?
- Can rules fix economic evil?
Another view
It simplifies complex market interactions as purely evil.
More from Albert Einstein
I have now reached the point where I may indicate briefly what to me constitutes the essence of the crisis of our time. It concerns the relationship of the ind…
Permalink to quote #152 I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational sys…
Permalink to quote #154 The owner of the means of production is in a position to purchase the labor power of the worker. By using the means of production, the worker produces new good…
Permalink to quote #151
Related quotes
Competition is a sin.
John D. RockefellerJohn D. Rockefeller quote #7 Capitalism is being attacked not because it is inefficient or misgoverned but because it is cynical. And indeed a society based on the assertion that private v…
Peter F. DruckerPeter F. Drucker quote #51 Business - the world's work - is the sale of lies: Not goods, but trade-marks; and still more and more In every branch becomes the sale of money.
John DavidsonJohn Davidson quote #1