“Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”

Eric Hoffer had an all too rare talent for analyzing and succinctly describing mass movements.

That's one way of looking at it.

I am with Bobble on this. It can be accurate enough but, the "Every" takes it out of the "every".

Change "every" to "many" and you have it.

The circle of socialism, the first step of compliance. Privileged vs We the People. Starts with the farmers ! left !

Hmm, name me a great cause that has not degenerated into a racket... The next step of course is REFORM. The quote is bang on. Good examples: organized religion, banking, representative government, medicine, law, construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, ... what have I missed?

E Archer has it. I can't seem to think of one. Sierra Club? Nah. How about United Way? No way. The only one that might not fit the statement is the right to life movement, I would not be surprised to find out that there is some people out there running some scams under that pretence but I can't hold that against the movement. I suppose the idea that life is precious is entirely to radical, wacky, and founded on hate to be successfully turned into a business.

There is one great cause, that seeks not profit among men. It is extremely unorthodox. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." 
Prov 13:07 kjb it never declines to corruption but stays the course from generation to generation. 

I agree with Warren, E archer has it.

Nevertheless, I'm still glad I went to Catholic School.  It ensured my atheism and my drive for my humanity.  Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create.