“I am a millionaire. Source That is my religion.”
This provocative statement from George Bernard Shaw sounds like a capitalist’s creed. It seems to clash with his well-known socialist beliefs. Many people hear it and assume he was a hypocrite. However, this quote is one of his most misunderstood declarations. To grasp its true meaning, we must look beyond the surface. We need to explore the specific context in which he wrote it.
Shaw did not make this statement in a personal interview. He also didn’t write it in a letter declaring his own faith. Instead, the line comes from the preface to his 1905 play, Major Barbara. The play itself is a brilliant, witty exploration of morality, poverty, and salvation. It pits the idealistic charity of the Salvation Army against the practical, ruthless capitalism of an arms manufacturer.
The Gospel of an Arms Dealer
The quote is the core philosophy of a character named Andrew Undershaft. He is a hugely successful and unapologetic munitions baron. Undershaft argues that poverty is the world’s worst crime. He believes that all other sins and evils stem directly from it. In his view, providing people with money and a job is a far greater moral act than saving their souls. Therefore, his “religion” is the acquisition of wealth, as it is the only tool powerful enough to eradicate the true evil of poverty.
Shaw uses Undershaft as a powerful mouthpiece for a radical idea. He presents this “millionaire’s religion” to challenge conventional notions of good and evil. The play forces the audience to question whether the Salvation Army, which takes donations from weapons manufacturers, is truly more virtuous than the man who creates the wealth and jobs in the first place. It is a classic Shavian paradox designed to provoke thought.
Poverty as the Ultimate Sin
To understand Shaw, one must understand his view on poverty. Source He was a prominent member of the Fabian Society, a group that advocated for gradual social reform. . For Shaw, poverty was not a noble state or a test of character. It was a destructive force that crippled human potential. He believed it was impossible for a poor person to be moral, clean, or intelligent because their every waking moment is consumed by the struggle for survival.
In the preface to Major Barbara, he explicitly states this. He argues that the greatest of evils and the worst of crimes is poverty. He also insists that our first duty, a duty to which every other consideration should be sacrificed, is not to be poor. This provides the crucial context for the famous quote. Money itself is not the god. Rather, the elimination of poverty is the supreme moral goal, and money is simply the most effective means to achieve it.
A Religion of Practicality
Ultimately, Shaw’s statement is not an endorsement of greed. It is a pragmatic, if shocking, declaration of priorities. He believed that society obsessed over spiritual salvation while ignoring the material damnation of millions. People needed food, shelter, and security before they could ever think about art, philosophy, or higher morality. His “religion” of being a millionaire was a religion of practicality.
Furthermore, he argued that a society that allows poverty to exist is a failed society. His provocative quote serves as a powerful critique of a system that romanticizes poverty while profiting from it. By framing wealth as a religion, Shaw forces us to consider what we truly value. He suggests that the most sacred mission of all is to build a world where no one has to suffer the crime of being poor. The quote, therefore, is not a confession of personal greed but a manifesto for social justice, delivered in the most unforgettable way possible.