Geoff Mulgan: Unequal Philanthropy

Posted by admin on Friday, April 2, 2021

Geoff Mulgan Money Quote saying some extra wealthy folks have decided that they would rather not die before giving away their fortune. Geoff Mulgan said:
 

 

“It’s an irony that growing inequality could mean more money for philanthropy. In the US, quite a few of the ultra-rich have taken to heart the 19th century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s comment that it’s a disgrace to die wealthy” — Geoff Mulgan

 

 

In this quote, social innovator Geoff Mulgan is acknowledging an ironic consequence of rising inequality. While growing wealth gaps are problematic, he suggests they may paradoxically lead to more philanthropic giving if the very wealthy take to heart Andrew Carnegie’s view that accumulating vast fortunes one does not distribute in life brings dishonor.

Mulgan implies rising inequality could generate increased charitable donations from billionaires seeking to justify their fortunes or leave positive legacies. Overall, the quote conveys that while inequality itself is troubling, it may perversely motivate more funding for social causes from those at the top who internalize a duty to spread opportunity through donations akin to Carnegie’s model of using wealth for public good.

Joseph Heller: Plunder into Philanthropy

Posted by admin on Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Joseph Heller Money Quote saying we can make others believe almost anything is opposite of reality by having a lack of character. Joseph Heller said:
 

 

“It was miraculous. It was almost no trick at all, he saw, to turn vice into virtue and slander into truth, impotence into abstinence, arrogance into humility, plunder into philanthropy, thievery into honor, blasphemy into wisdom, brutality into patriotism, and sadism into justice. Anybody could do it; it required no brains at all. It merely required no character” — Joseph Heller

 

 

In this insightful quote, author Joseph Heller seems to be commenting on how easily certain negative behaviors or traits can be rhetorically reframed and rebranded through clever manipulation of language and propaganda.

He notes it takes little real effort or intelligence to portray “vice as virtue”, turn “slander into truth”, characterize “impotence as abstinence” and so on. Heller suggests one can pass off “plunder as philanthropy”, classify “thievery as honor” and describe “brutality as patriotism” through selective framing alone.

The key interpretation is that Heller believes it requires no substantial “character” or integrity to spin wrongdoings in a positive light through deceptive semantics. He appears to be criticizing how vices can masquerade as virtues through clever but empty rhetoric that cloaks the true nature and motivations behind actions according to his perspective expressed in this insightful quote.

Birthday: May 1, 1923 – Death: December 12, 1999