Pithy Words

An Easy Essay

by Peter Maurin

Modern society has made the
bank account
the standard of values.
When the bank account
becomes the standard of values
the bank account has the power.
When the bank account has the power
the technician has to supervise
the making of profits.
When the bank account has the power
the politician
has to insure law and order
in the profit-making system.
When the bank account has the power
the educator trains students
in the technique of profit making.
When the bank account has the power
the clergyman is expected
to bless the profit-making system
or to join the unemployed.
When the bank account has the power
the Sermon on the Mount
is declared unpractical.
When the bank account has the power
we have an acquisitive,
not a functional society.

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Peter Maurin, along with Dorothy Day, founded the Catholic Worker movement in 1933. We have great esteem for this movement, which continues to flourish. There are many Web sites that can tell you more -- our favorite is the Houston Catholic Worker site.

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For another of Peter Maurin's Easy Essays, click here

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