# Quote — R. H. Tawney, Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

> To countless generations of religious thinkers, the fundamental maxim of Christian social ethics had seemed to be expressed in the words of St. Paul to Timothy: "Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. For the love of money is the root of all evil." Now, while, as always, the world battered at the gate, a new standard was raised within the citadel by its own defenders. The garrison had discovered that the invading host of economic appetites was, not an enemy, but an ally. Not sufficiency to the needs of daily life, but limitless increase and expansion, became the goal of the Christian's efforts.

- Author: [R. H. Tawney](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-h-tawney.md)
- Book: [Religion and the Rise of Capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-h-tawney/religion-and-the-rise-of-capitalism.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/R._H._Tawney#Religion_and_the_Rise_of_Capitalism_(1926)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-h-tawney/religion-and-the-rise-of-capitalism/to-countless-generations

## More from this book

> A society which reverences the attainment of riches as the supreme felicity will naturally be disposed to regard the poor as damned in the next world, if only to justify itself for making their life a hell in this.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-h-tawney/religion-and-the-rise-of-capitalism/a-society-which.md)

> Mankind may wring her secrets from nature, and use their knowledge to destroy themselves.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-h-tawney/religion-and-the-rise-of-capitalism/mankind-may-wring.md)

> Too often, contemning the external order as unspiritual, [the Puritan] has made it, and ultimately himself, less spiritual by reason of his contempt.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-h-tawney/religion-and-the-rise-of-capitalism/too-often-contemning.md)