Thought for the Day
Better and Better Off
by Peter Maurin
The world would be better off if people tried to become better.
And people would become better if they stopped trying to become better off.
For when everybody tries to become better off, nobody is better off.
But when everybody tries to become better, everybody is better off.
Everybody would be rich if nobody tried to become richer.
And nobody would be poor if everybody tried to be the poorest.
And everybody would be what he ought to be if everybody tried to be what he wants the other fellow to be.
Christianity has nothing to do with either modern capitalism or modern Communism
for Christianity has a capitalism of its own.
Modern capitalism is based on property without responsibility,
while Christian capitalism is based on property with responsibility.
Modern Communism is based on poverty through force
while Christian communism is based on poverty through choice.
For a Christian, voluntary poverty is the ideal as exemplified by St. Francis of Assisi.
while private property is not an absolute right, but a gift which as such can not be wasted,
but must be administered for the benefit of God’s children.
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Overall, it’s a nice thought for the day. So I hate to be a party pooper. But there’s clearly some overreaching.
“Everybody would be rich if nobody tried to become richer. And nobody would be poor if everybody tried to be the poorest.”
Simply not true. Sorry.
That’s neat. “Christian communism is based on poverty through choice”
That’s neat. “Christian communism is based on poverty through choice”
Not to burst your individualist bubble, but Maurin and Day also talked about the need to create a society in which it’s easier to be good.