In Richard Powers's novel GAIN, there's a scene where the CEO of a Johnson & Johnson type conglomerate tries to write down what's the purpose of a corporation:

In Richard Powers's novel GAIN, there's a scene where the CEO of a Johnson & Johnson type conglomerate tries to write down what's the purpose of a corporation: "To make a profit. To make a consistent profit. To make a living. To make a profit in the long run. To make things. To make things in the most economical way. To make the greatest number of things. To make things that last the longest. To make things for the longest possible time. To make things people need. To make things people desire. To make people desire things. To give meaningful employment. To give reliable employment. To give people something to do. To do something. To provide the greatest good for the greatest number. To promote the general welfare. To provide for the common defense. To increase the value of the company stock. To pay a regular dividend. To maximize the net worth of the firm. To advance the lot of all stakeholders. To grow. To progress. To expand. To increase knowhow. To increase revenues and decrease costs. To compete efficiently. To buy low and sell high. To improve the hand humanity has been dealt. To produce the next round of technological innovations. To rationalize nature. To improve the landscape. To shatter space and arrest time. To see what the human race can do. To amass the country's retirement pension. To amass the capital required to do anything we want to do. To discover what we want to do. To vacate the premises before the sun dies out. To make life a little easier. To build a better tomorrow. To kick something back into the kitty. To facilitate the flow of capital. To preserve the corporation. To do business. To stay in business. To figure out the purpose of business."