Gustave Flaubert: Economics of Virtue?
on Sunday, December 4, 2016Meaning of Gustave Flaubert Money Quote: saying it’s not likely that anyone prefers virtue above economic gain when there is a choice. Gustave Flaubert said:
“When everything is reduced to the mere counter-balancing of economic interests, what room will there be for virtue?” — Gustave Flaubert
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In this quote, Gustave Flaubert seems to be critiquing the prioritization of economic and financial interests above all other human values. A few key points:
- He refers to a system or way of thinking that reduces all matters to “the mere counter-balancing of economic interests”.
- This suggests viewing every issue, decision and interaction solely through the lens of maximizing profits, wealth accumulation or other monetary gain.
- Flaubert argues that if this is the dominant approach, it leaves “no room for virtue”.
- By “virtue” he appears to mean moral principles, compassion, integrity and other non-economic values that are important to society functioning in a just, ethical manner.
Overall, the quote conveys Flaubert’s view that an overemphasis on economic concerns at the expense of other human qualities like virtue, justice and ethics can be problematic and detrimental to culture and civilization.