"Once you start thinking about it in a mercenary frame of mind, then you're finished. You're a joke, because there are too many mercenaries out there already"

This quote by Tommy Shaw is a reminder to stay true to yourself and your enthusiasms. He is warning versus becoming too concentrated on cash and material gain. He believes that if you end up being too concentrated on cash, you will become a joke because there are currently too many people who are only motivated by money. He is encouraging people to stay real to their enthusiasms and to not let cash be the only driving force in their lives. He thinks that if you concentrate on cash, you will forget what is genuinely essential and will end up being a joke. This quote is a suggestion to remain real to yourself and to not let cash be the only thing that encourages you.