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Capitalism’s real “grave-diggers” may end up being its own delusional Cardinals, who have turned ideology into faith. Despite their strategic brilliance, they seem to have trouble grasping a simple fact: Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks that dug it out of past crises-War and Shopping-simply will not work.
Arundhati Roy
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques capitalism and its self-destructive nature.

Arundhati Roy highlights the paradox within capitalism, suggesting that the very systems and ideologies that sustain it may ultimately lead to its downfall. She points out that self-identified defenders of capitalism are blinded by their faith in the system, failing to recognize its detrimental impact on the planet and the futility of relying on past solutions like war and consumerism to address its crises.

Themes

CapitalismEnvironmentCrisisIdeologyFaith

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about economic systems, this quote can be used to emphasize the negative environmental impact of capitalism.

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When I decided to write 'The God of Small Things', I had been working in cinema. It was almost a decision to downshift from there. I thought that 300 people would read it. But it created a platform of trust.
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In California, there are huge problems because of dams. I'm against big dams, per se, because I think that they are economically unfeasible. They're ecologically unsustainable. And they're hugely undemocratic.
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To call someone 'anti-American', indeed, to be anti-American, is not just racist, it's a failure of the imagination.
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