Greed is good
Meaning
This phrase asserts that avarice and the ruthless pursuit of wealth, far from being a vice, are beneficial forces that drive progress and success.
Origin
The iconic phrase 'Greed is good' burst into the lexicon from the silver screen in 1987. It was uttered by the ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas, in Oliver Stone's film Wall Street. Gekko's unforgettable speech, where he declares 'Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works,' perfectly crystallized the aggressive, deregulated financial culture of the 1980s. This cinematic moment transformed a traditional vice into a rallying cry for unchecked capitalism, forever associating the phrase with a particular era of ambition and excess.
Examples
- Despite criticism, his company's ethos seemed to be Greed is good, always prioritizing profit above all else.
- She argued that while some might decry their aggressive business tactics, embracing the idea that Greed is good had made them immensely successful.