Social Question

Judi's avatar

I saw a quote and I can't remember who to attribute it to. Can you help?

Asked by Judi (40025points) November 18th, 2013

It was something like. “Capitalism is like fire. It can be helpful if it’s regulated and contained. Out of control it will burn your house down.”
It has been haunting me and I have referred to it several times. I wish I knew who to give credit to.

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3 Answers

zenvelo's avatar

Bill Moyers said this in September:

“So Pope Francis and Kumi Naidoo speak the truth, in different accents and with different metaphors, but their message boils down to this, capitalism is like fire, a good servant but a bad master. If we don’t dethrone our present system of financial capitalism that rewards those at the top who then use it to rig the rules against even the most reasonable check on their excesses, It will consume us. And that fragile, thin line between democracy and a darker social order will be extinguished.”

PhiNotPi's avatar

I found a similar quote in the comments section of an online article.

“I agree with George Will (imagine that). These TBTF banks, WallStreet Investors, etc… are the Gadianton Robbers we have been warned about. Like fire. Capitalism can be use for heat, warm, cooking and energy. Left unchecked, and out of control—it will burn your house down, and kill your family.”

Also, in the online comments of this other article.

“Capitalism is like fire: very useful when regulated, but very destructive whe n unrestrained. We used to have regulated capitalism here in USA, but lately not so much. Especially for the banksters.”

Espiritus_Corvus's avatar

@Judi So far, I like your paraphrasing better than the sources’. It is more succinct and threatening.

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