Eric Hoffer: Selling Out Needlessly
on Monday, November 22, 2010Eric Hoffer Money Quotation saying it is odd that even in the best of times, there are many who will sell their soul to the highest bidder. Eric Hoffer said:
“There are of course times when hard cash will buy souls, and the remarkable thing is that such times are marked by civility, tolerance, and the smooth working of everyday life” — Eric Hoffer
Eric Hoffer seems to be making an observation about human behavior and societal stability. The quote suggests there are periods when money can effectively “buy souls” or strongly influence people’s perspectives and allegiances. However, Hoffer notes that these times are paradoxically characterized by “civility, tolerance, and the smooth working of everyday life.”
He appears to be implying that when financial incentives or security are the primary motivating factors for many, it perversely leads to less social friction or unrest. This is possibly because focusing on material comforts distracts from ideological divides, or people are less inclined to agitate when preoccupied with earning a living.
In essence, Hoffer seems to be acknowledging that while outright buying of “souls” with money is problematic, it can still perversely contribute to superficial harmony and functionality within a society by shifting priorities toward financial pursuits over non-monetary causes that sometimes drive deeper divisions and disruptions.
Birthday: July 25, 1902 – Death: May 21, 1983