Progress and Poverty (1879)
Context: But there is another form of monopoly, far more general and far more insidious. The accumulation of large amounts of capital under consolidated control creates a new kind of power—essentially different from the power of increase. Increase is constructive in its nature. Power from accumulation is destructive. It is often exercised with reckless disregard, not only to industry but to the personal rights of individuals. A railroad approaches a small town as a highwayman approaches his victim. “Agree to our terms or we will bypass your town” is as effective a threat as “your money or your life.” As robbers unite to plunder and divide the spoils, the trunk lines of railroads unite to raise rates and pool their earnings. The public is then forced to pay the cost of the whole maneuver, as the vanquished are forced to pay the cost of their own enslavement by a conquering army.
“It is easy to be conspicuously 'compassionate' if others are being forced to pay the cost.”
Source: Marketing Insights from A to Z: 80 Concepts Every Manager Needs to Know, 2011, p. 127; Quote in the context of new product development.
Statement broadcast to the United States and the Pacific Fleet, after ceremonies in Tokyo Bay accepting the official surrender of Japan (2 September 1945); a portion of this is engraved on the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Context: Today all freedom-loving peoples of the world rejoice in the victory and feel pride in the accomplishments of our combined forces. We also pay tribute to those who defended our freedom at the cost of their lives.
On Guam is a military cemetery in a green valley not far from my headquarters. The ordered rows of white crosses stand as reminders of the heavy cost we have paid for victory. On these crosses are the names of American soldiers, sailors and marines — Culpepper, Tomaino, Sweeney, Bromberg, Depew, Melloy, Ponziani — names that are a cross-section of democracy. They fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation — the obligation to insure that their sacrifice will help to make this a better and safer world in which to live. … Now we turn to the great tasks of reconstruction and restoration. I am confident that we will be able to apply the same skill, resourcefulness, and keen thinking to these problems as were applied to the problems of winning the victory.
“People 'over-produce' pollution because they are not paying for the costs of dealing with it.”
Source: 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism
“The elimination of force at all costs is Utopian”
As Quoted in Part of Bhagat Singh's statement during his trial.
Context: The elimination of force at all costs is Utopian and the new movement which has arisen in the country and of whose dawn we have given a warning is inspired by the ideals which Guru Gobind Singh and Shivaji, Kamal Pasha and Reza Khan, Washington and Garibaldi, Lafayette and Lenin preached.
“What we pay for with our lives never costs too much.”
Lo pagado con nuestra vida nunca es caro.
Voces (1943)
Source: The Poker Face of Wall Street (2006), Chapter 4, A Brief History of Risk Denial, p. 86
Twitter tweet (25 July 2011), as quoted in David Atkins at Hullabaloo (26 July 2011) http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2011/07/26/rick-warren-what-were-you-thinking/
1910s, Address to Congress: Analyzing German and Austrian Peace Utterances (1918)
