"Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket."
by:
Eric Hoffer
(1902-1983) American author, philosopher, awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Eric Hoffer had an all too rare talent for analyzing and succinctly describing mass movements.
 -- Jackson Peterson, Bremerton, WA     
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    That's one way of looking at it.
     -- Bobble, No. Ferrisburgh, VT     
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    I am with Bobble on this. It can be accurate enough but, the "Every" takes it out of the "every".
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Change "every" to "many" and you have it.
     -- jim k, Austin     
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    The circle of socialism, the first step of compliance. Privileged vs We the People. Starts with the farmers ! left !
     -- Ronw13, Yachats OR     
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    Hmm, name me a great cause that has not degenerated into a racket... The next step of course is REFORM. The quote is bang on. Good examples: organized religion, banking, representative government, medicine, law, construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, ... what have I missed?
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    E Archer has it. I can't seem to think of one. Sierra Club? Nah. How about United Way? No way. The only one that might not fit the statement is the right to life movement, I would not be surprised to find out that there is some people out there running some scams under that pretence but I can't hold that against the movement. I suppose the idea that life is precious is entirely to radical, wacky, and founded on hate to be successfully turned into a business.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    There is one great cause, that seeks not profit among men. It is extremely unorthodox. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." 
    Prov 13:07 kjb it never declines to corruption but stays the course from generation to generation. 
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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    I agree with Warren, E archer has it.
     -- jim k, Austin     
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    Nevertheless, I'm still glad I went to Catholic School.  It ensured my atheism and my drive for my humanity.  Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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