Timothy D. Snyder Quotes

It is economic power that determines political power, and governments become the political functionaries of economic power.

Middle-class democracy has proved the best camouflage of the political dominance of big capital.

[Politicians and political party] leaders themselves, though they originally may have meant nothing but their own aggrandizement, become many of them in time the dupes of their own sophistry, and are as eager for this great reformation as the weakest and foolishest of their followers.

It is no accident that in America today the gap between the very rich and everyone else is wider than at any time since the Gilded Age. Now, as then, the titans are seeking an even greater political voice to match their economic power. Now, as then, the inevitable danger is that they will confuse their own self-interest with the common good.

Ideology isn’t driving the dynamic in Washington, it’s the desire to stay in power.

Either you support the existing global elite, or you want real change and believe in nation-state democracy.

A Republican moves slowly. They are what we call conservatives. A conservative is a man who has plenty of money and doesn't see any reason why he shouldn't always have plenty of money. A Democrat is a fellow who never had any, but doesn't see any reason why he shouldn't have some.

Making the first million is hard; making the next 100 million is easy.

It's so hard to shoot wealth. It doesn't show up on film.

The Clintons engage routinely in corrupt practices, mixing their political power with their nonprofit work to make themselves rich, while not standing up for the little guy.

During the 1980s, many people mistook Thatcherism and Reaganism - actually a wild form of liberalism - for conservatism.

Financially, I don't have to fight again. I've done well for myself.

The BJP believes in building its individual strength.

I always tell people, when I was growing up I was really into getting money - I didn't really care about anything else.

I understand; I can see it from two ways: people trying to get that money and leave the game early and people trying to set history or whatever.

Money doesn't just buy a nice car; it also buys better education or healthcare. Increasingly, it can buy impunity from justice, a pliant media, favorable laws, business advantage, and even elections. This, in turn, perpetuates the policies that allow a tiny elite to accumulate ever more wealth at the expense of the majority.

I'm not a young kid struggling to get to the top. I've been to the top. I gotta look out for my best interests as a businessman in this fight game. At the end of the day, it is a business. I've got children to take care of; I've got bills to pay.

I don't like to discuss my investments.

When moneys in a purse in my own pocket / It means wealth.

Right, left, Greens, Baathists, whatever: it comes down to grabbing and holding power and using ideology - or religion, race - as a justification.

The best client is a scared millionaire.

Truly wealthy people develop the habit of "getting rich slow" rather than "getting rich quick." To assure this, they have two rules with regard to money. Rule number one: Don't lose money. Rule number two: If ever you feel tempted, refer back to rule number one, "don't lose money."

Making a million legally has always been difficult. Making a million illegally has always been a little easier. Keeping a million when you have made it is perhaps the most difficult of all.

To be rich is not the end, but only a change, of worries.

I think it is a man's duty to make all the money he can, keep all that he can and give away all that he can.