Greed

"All for Silas! All for Silas!"

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Greed, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is "a selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed".

In Christianity, it is one of the Seven Deadly Sins — such desires being seen as turning the heart away from God — and has been roundly condemned in most historical codes of morals; not without justification, as the greed of kings and other monarchic rulers could be the driving force behind endless war and political infighting.

However, in more recent years, greed has been re-evaluated and now is seen by a significant number as being a positive force in a capitalist economy, as a greedy person, by enriching himself, increases economic activity and helps everyone around him ("a rising tide lifts all boats").

...except when it fucks everyone over if appropriate laws haven't been levied to constrain it.

Quotes

“”The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed — for lack of a better word — is good. Greed is right. Greed works.

—Gordon Gekko, Wall Street

“”We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!

—Gollum, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

See also

• Ayn Rand - extolled its "virtues", under the euphemism "rational self-interest".
• Money
• Affluenza

References

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