"Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone"
- John Maynard Keynes
About this Quote
John Maynard Keynes' quote is a review of commercialism, which is a financial system based on private ownership of the ways of production and the development of products and services for revenue. In this quote, Keynes is mentioning the paradoxical nature of commercialism, which is that it relies on the assumption that individuals will act in their own self-interest, even if it implies doing something that is ethically incorrect. He is suggesting that this system is flawed since it assumes that people will act in a manner that is eventually advantageous for everyone, even though it may involve unethical habits. This quote highlights the stress between individual interests and collective interests that is inherent in commercialism. It also functions as a tip that, while capitalism can be a powerful tool for financial growth, it is not without its flaws.