The line comes from Ursula K. Le Guin's acceptance speech at the National Book Awards in 2014, where she received a medal for her contribution to American letters. In the full speech she warned about writers, publishing and profit, and argued that resistance and change often begin in art. The capitalism comparison was quoted widely in articles, social posts and video essays afterward because it summed up her point in a few seconds. It remains popular as a concise literary voice in political and cultural discussions online.