Kurt Vonnegut: Nuts & Bolts Billions
on Friday, May 12, 2017Kurt Vonnegut Money Quote saying artists are undervalued and struggle to eat, while those providing utilitarian products get wealthy. Kurt Vonnegut said:
“People who sell bolts and nuts and locomotives and frozen orange juice make billions, while the people who struggle to bring a little beauty into the world, give life a little meaning, they starve” — Kurt Vonnegut
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In this quote, Kurt Vonnegut is lamenting how society often undervalues and undercompensates creative works and cultural contributions that enrich people’s lives. By noting that those who “struggle to bring a little beauty into the world, give life a little meaning” tend to “starve” financially, while mundane commercial industries “make billions”, Vonnegut implies a misalignment between what truly nourishes humanity and what activities are most lavishly rewarded economically.
The interpretation is that Vonnegut viewed monetary incentives as skewed away from supporting arts, literature, philosophy and other expressions that elevate human experience, instead disproportionately benefiting industries offering conveniences over enrichment. His perspective conveys frustration that compensation rarely follows efforts to cultivate meaning, wisdom or inspiration through creative works, despite their profound importance to civilization and individuals’ inner lives.
The overall message is one of disappointment that society underappreciates and underfunds those dedicated to uplifting life spiritually or intellectually through their gifts.