When I have one martini, I feel bigger, wiser, taller. When I have a second, I feel superlative. When I have more, there's no holding me.
William FaulknerRead
As long as I live under the capitalistic system I expect to have my life influenced by the demands of moneyed people. But I will be damned if I propose to be at the beck and call of every itinerant scoundrel who has two cents to invest in a postage stamp. This, sir, is my resignation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a rejection of being controlled by the wealthy and their demands in a capitalist society.
William Faulkner's quote reflects a deep frustration with the influence of money in one's life, showcasing a determination to resist being at the mercy of those who wield financial power. He emphasizes that he will not allow himself to be subservient to anyone with even a small amount of wealth, signifying a stand against the expectations and pressures of a capitalistic society.
Themes
CapitalismMoneyInfluenceResignationPower
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about the ethical implications of capitalism.
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He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like the others: just a shape to fill a lack; that when the right time came, you wouldn't need a word for that any more than for pride or fear....One day I was talking to Cora. She prayed for me because she believed I was blind to sin, wanting me to kneel and pray too, because people to whom sin is just a matter of words, to them salvation is just words too.
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Ever since then I have believed that God is not only a gentleman and a sport; he is a Kentuckian too.
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