Michael Moore Quotes

As a poodle may have his hair cut long or his hair cut short, as he may be trimmed with pink ribbons or with blue ribbons, yet he remains the same old poodle, so capitalism may be trimmed with factory laws, tenement laws, divorce laws and gambling laws, but it remains the same old capitalism. These “humanitarian parts” are only trimming the poodle. Socialism, one and inseparable with its “antirent and anticapital parts,” means to get rid of the poodle..

Capitalism is so successful economically that it creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.

While there's capitalism, there'll be socialism, because there is always a response to injustice.

The capitalist process shapes things and souls for socialism.

When capitalism changes, so must socialism.

Controlling capitalism has proved far more difficult than controlling anything else, because capitalism is based on the control of the many by the few—the reverse of the conventional definition of political democracy.

The reason socialism has failed around the world every time it's been tried is because people in socialist countries have looked at the United States and have said if they can have it that good, we can. It's a failed, flawed ideology, but if you ask socialists why it's always failed, it's because the United States has stood in the way.

This old Germany was partly defeated in its conflict with the progressive ideas of socialism, for it had given the people nothing that could serve as a successful alternative to socialism.

Capitalism has its weaknesses. But it is capitalism that ended the stranglehold of the hereditary aristocracies, raised the standard of living for most of the world and enabled the emancipation of women.

I am convinced that the path to a new, better and possible world is not capitalism, the path is socialism.

If experts were usually right, socialism would prevail.

Democracy and capitalism have both been hacked.

I dislike Communism because it is undemocratic, and capitalism because it favors exploitation.

Our system of market capitalism wasn't handed down, in perfect form, on stone tablets. We wrote the rules. We broke them. And we can fix them.

I even believed in a third way; I thought it was possible to put a human face on capitalism. But I was wrong. The only way to save the world is through socialism, but a socialism that exists within a democracy; there's no dictatorship here.

We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings.

Laissez Faire was very good sauce for the goose, labor, but was very poor sauce for the gander, capital.

I think that the future belongs to democracy, but not to capitalism, because they are opposite camps.

Socialism's not a word that I use. I say 'social democracy' because I don't think the government needs to own all the means of production.

Capitalism unchecked is not a democratic system.

Conservatives have no understanding of modern capitalism. They have a distorted understanding of the traditional values they claim to defend.

I'm a capitalist. I believe in capitalism. But capitalism only works if you have safety nets to deal with people who are naturally left behind and brutalized by it.

History suggests that capitalism is a necessary condition for political freedom. Clearly it is not a sufficient condition.

Socialism states that you owe me something simply because I exist. Capitalism, by contrast, results in a sort of reality-forced altruism: I may not want to help you, I may dislike you, but if I don't give you a product or service you want, I will starve. Voluntary exchange is more moral than forced redistribution.

Capitalism inevitably and by virtue of the very logic of its civilization creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.