“I am a Millionaire. That is my religion.”
This bold declaration comes from George Bernard Shaw. It feels jarring and unapologetically materialistic. However, the quote is not a simple celebration of greed. Instead, it serves as a provocative entry point into a complex argument about poverty, morality, and power. To understand its true depth, we must look at its source and the radical ideas Shaw championed.
The Source: A Line from Major Barbara
The famous line is not from an essay or an interview. It originates in Shaw’s 1905 play, Major Barbara. A character named Andrew Undershaft speaks these powerful words. The play itself is a brilliant clash of ideas. It pits idealism against pragmatism. Consequently, the quote lands with the force of a philosophical bombshell.
The story follows Major Barbara, an officer in the Salvation Army. She dedicates her life to saving souls and helping the poor. Her estranged father, Andrew Undershaft, is a hugely successful armaments manufacturer. He is the millionaire from the quote. Their conflicting worldviews create the central tension of the play. This tension forces both characters and the audience to question their own beliefs about good and evil.
The Voice of Andrew Undershaft
Andrew Undershaft is no simple villain. Shaw writes him as a charismatic and intelligent industrialist. He believes his work, while creating weapons of war, ultimately does more good than his daughter’s charity. Why? Because it provides jobs, creates wealth, and lifts people out of the squalor he despises.
Undershaft’s philosophy is direct and unsentimental. He argues that poverty is the world’s worst crime. In his view, it cripples the human spirit far more than any sin traditional religion condemns. Therefore, his “religion” is the accumulation of wealth and power. He sees money not as an end in itself, but as the only effective tool to eradicate the true evil: poverty. This perspective deliberately challenges conventional morality.
Unpacking a Controversial ‘Religion’
When Undershaft says, “That is my religion,” he redefines the very concept of faith. For him, a creed must deliver tangible results. He scoffs at religions that offer spiritual salvation but leave their followers hungry and cold. His faith is in capital, industry, and the power to shape the world.
This “religion” has its own clear commandment: “Thou shalt not be poor.” He believes that a lack of money is the root of all other social ills. It leads to weakness, disease, and despair. In contrast, wealth provides security, health, and freedom. It gives people the power to live full lives. Shaw uses this shocking statement to force the audience to consider whether traditional charity is truly effective or just a way to make the wealthy feel better.
Shaw’s Radical Message Against Poverty
It may seem strange for a socialist to write such a powerful defense of a millionaire. Source However, this is classic Shaw. George Bernard Shaw was a leading figure in the Fabian Society, a group committed to gradual social reform. He used his plays to explore complex social problems from unexpected angles.
Through Undershaft, Shaw criticizes a society that tolerates poverty. He suggests that moralizing about the poor is useless. Instead, he argues for a practical, systematic approach to eliminating it. Undershaft’s millions, earned through a morally questionable business, become a symbol of the power needed to enact real change. Shaw isn’t necessarily endorsing arms dealers. Rather, he is using Undershaft to argue that good intentions are not enough. The world needs power and resources to solve its biggest problems.
The Quote’s Enduring Legacy
Over a century later, Shaw’s quote continues to provoke debate. It forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about wealth and responsibility. In an age of billionaire philanthropists and vast economic inequality, Undershaft’s words feel incredibly relevant. Does immense wealth carry a moral obligation? Can money, regardless of its source, be a force for good?
The quote serves as a timeless challenge to simplistic moral judgments. It reminds us that George Bernard Shaw was a master of paradox. He used the voice of a capitalist to deliver a profoundly socialist critique of society. Ultimately, “I am a Millionaire. That is my religion” is not just about money. It is a powerful, enduring statement about the fight against human suffering and the real-world tools needed to win it.