Absent people do not inherit.
—French Proverb
He who comes for the inheritance is often made to pay for the funeral.
—Yiddish Proverb
They who provide much wealth for their children but neglect to improve them in virtue, do like those who feed their horses high, but never train them to be useful.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
There is a strange charm in the thoughts of a good legacy, or the hopes of an estate, which wondrously removes or at least alleviates the sorrow that men would otherwise feel for the death of friends.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
The weeping of an heir is laughter in disguise.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
They defend their errors as if they were defending their inheritance.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth. I find this more and more every day: an infinitude of tenderness is the chief gift and inheritance of all the truly great men. It is sure to involve a relative intensity of disdain towards base things, and an appearance of sternness and arrogance in the eyes of all hard, stupid, and vulgar people
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
You may not be able to leave your children a great inheritance, but day by day, you may be weaving coats for them which they will wear for all eternity.
—Theodore L. Cuyler (1822–1909) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Writer
What madness it is for a man to starve himself to enrich his heir, and so turn a friend into an enemy! For his joy at your death will be proportioned to what you leave him.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Say not you know another entirely till you have divided an inheritance with him.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
To inherit property is not to be born—it is to be still-born, rather.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Say not that you
—Anonymous
I would as soon leave my son a curse as the almighty dollar.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Die and endow a college or a cat.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
The finest inheritance you can give to a child is to allow it to make its own way, completely on its own feet.
—Isadora Duncan (1877–1927) American Dancer, Choreographer
A third heir seldom enjoys what has been dishonestly acquired.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
A person can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
What you have inherited from your fathers, earn over again for yourselves, or it will not be yours.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
In the division of inheritance, friendship stands still.
—Dutch Proverb
Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
We have not inherited this land from our ancestors; rather we have borrowed it from our children.
—African Proverb
What you enjoy is yours; what you save for your heirs, is already not yours, but theirs.
—Unknown
The graveyards are full of young lawyers, lost inheritance and young doctors.
—French Proverb
We pay for the mistakes of our ancestors, and it seems only fair that they should leave us the money to pay with.
—Don Marquis (1878–1937) American Humorist, Journalist, Author
I have also seen children successfully surmounting the effects of an evil inheritance. That is due to purity being an inherent attribute of the soul.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.
—Unknown
To get to know a friend, you must share an inheritance with him.
—German Proverb
You give me nothing during your life, but you promise to provide for me at your death. If you are not a fool, you know what you make me wish for.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
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