I prefer to think of "finance" (to the extent that its myriad subfields can be subsumed under that label) as the oil that lubricates the machine. That is, necessary for proper operation, but incapable of providing a motive force by itself.
On a related note, it's easy for "financial types" to fall into the trap of equating GDP with the creation of wealth (indeed, some people define it this way), and during economic booms structural problems are often glossed over by citing increasing GDP as a sign of growing wealth. But at the end of the day, improving living standards have a subjective component that can't be fully captured by measuring the total value of the goods & services produced each year.
On a related note, it's easy for "financial types" to fall into the trap of equating GDP with the creation of wealth (indeed, some people define it this way), and during economic booms structural problems are often glossed over by citing increasing GDP as a sign of growing wealth. But at the end of the day, improving living standards have a subjective component that can't be fully captured by measuring the total value of the goods & services produced each year.