Mokokoma Mokhonoana: Greed Contagion
on Monday, February 12, 2018Mokokoma Mokhonoana Money Quote saying greediness is a failure of mental health which has been responsible for building our civilization. Mokokoma Mokhonoana said:
“Greed is a contagious mental illness without which civilization as we know it would not have been possible” — Mokokoma Mokhonoana
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This quote from Mokokoma Mokhonoana suggests that greed has played an important role in driving human civilization and progress.
While greed can have negative effects on individuals and societies, the quote implies that without some degree of greed throughout history, civilizations may not have developed advanced economies, technologies, and infrastructure.
Mokhonoana seems to view greed as a natural human impulse or “mental illness” that, when channeled productively, can motivate innovation, trade, specialization of labor, and other forces that have allowed civilizations to grow in complexity over time.
However, the quote also implies that greed must be kept in check, as unchecked or contagious greed could undermine societies and civilizations.