No one has ever said it, but how painfully true it is that the poor have us always with them.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
‘Tis a sort of duty to be rich, that it may be in one’s power to do good, riches being another word for power.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
The only truly affluent are those who do not want more than they have.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Avarice, greed, concupiscence and so forth are all based on the mathematical truism that the more you get, the more you have. The remark of Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive is based on the human truth that the more you give away in love, the more you are. It is not just for the sake of other people that Jesus tells us to give rather than get, but for our own sakes too.
—Frederick Buechner (b.1926) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Theologian
Riches do not delight us so much with their possession, as torment us with their loss.
—Dick Gregory
We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
Wealth is not a matter of intelligence it’s a matter of inspiration.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
When the anger of the gods is incurred, wealth or power only bring more devastating punishment.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The poor are the only consistent altruists; they sell all they have and give it to the rich.
—Holbrook Jackson (1874–1948) British Journalist, Writer, Publisher
It is better to live rich than to die rich.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
For a person to build a rich and rewarding life for himself, there are certain qualities and bits of knowledge that he needs to acquire. There are also things, harmful attitudes, superstitions, and emotions that he needs to chip away. A person needs to chip away everything that doesn’t look like the person he or she most wants to become.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
The main source of our wealth is goodness. The affections and the generous qualities that God admires in a world full of greed.
—Alfred A. Montapert (1906–97) American Engineer, Philosopher
Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. … Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the last generation.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Whatever a person saves from his revenue he adds to his capital, and either employs it himself in maintaining an additional number of productive hands, or enables some person to do so … for a share of profits. As the capital of an individual can be increased only by what he saves … so the capital of a society can be increased only in the same manner.
—Adam Smith (1723–90) Scottish Philosopher, Economist
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
—Common Proverb
Save for gold, jewels, works of art, perhaps good agricultural land, and a very few other things, there ain’t no such animal as a permanent investment.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
You can’t take it with you when you go.
—Common Proverb
It is safer to be a speculator than an investor in the sense that a speculator is one who runs risks of which he is aware and an investor is one who runs risks of which he is unaware.
—John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) English Economist
Ill fares the land To hastening ills a prey When wealth accumulates But men decay.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
No man is rich enough to buy back his past.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
A man that hoards up riches and enjoys them not, is like an ass that carries gold and eats thistles.
—Richard Burton (1925–84) Welsh Actor
I don’t mind their having a lot of money, and I don’t care how they employ it, but I do think that they damn well ought to admit they enjoy it.
—Ogden Nash (1902–71) American Writer of Sophisticated Light Verse
The penalty of affluence is that it cuts one off from the common lot, common experience, and common fellowship. In a sense it outlaws one automatically from one’s birthright of membership in the great human family.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money.
—W. C. Fields (1880–1946) American Actor, Comedian, Writer
No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
When people have all the material things they need, they seem not to need each other. They are self-sufficient. There is no interdependence. There is no love. In a poor community, however, there is often a lot of mutual help and sharing of goods, as well as help from outside. Poverty can even become a cement of unity.
—Jean Vanier (1928–2019) French-Canadian Philosopher, Theologian, Humanitarian
It is wonderful to think how men of very large estates not only spend their yearly income, but are often actually in want of money. It is clear, they have not value for what they spend.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihoodthe virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
He who knows he has enough is rich.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Solvency is entirely a matter of temperament, not of income.
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Real riches are the riches possessed inside.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
The real price of everything is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.
—Adam Smith (1723–90) Scottish Philosopher, Economist
We do not commonly find men of superior sense amongst those of the highest fortune.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and tongues, and kindreds. Nor should this lead us to a war upon property, or the owners of property. Property is the fruit of labor; property is desirable; is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich and, hence, is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus, by example, assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
What a man does with his wealth depends upon his idea of happiness. Those who draw prizes in life are apt to spend tastelessly, if not viciously; not knowing that it requires as much talent to spend as to make.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
—Anne Bradstreet (1612–72) English Poet
Nations like men, can be healthy and happy, though comparatively poor… . Wealth is a means to an end, not the end itself. As a synonym for health and happiness, it has had a fair trial and failed dismally.
—John Galsworthy (1867–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
The only question with wealth is, what do you do with it?
—John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) American Oil Magnate, Philanthropist
I wish I were either rich enough or poor enough to do a lot of things that are impossible in my present comfortable circumstances.
—Don Herold (1889–1966) American Humorist, Writer, Illustrator, Cartoonist
Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness.
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–93) English Playwright, Poet, Translator
Wealth hath never given happiness, but often hastened misery; enough hath never caused misery, but often quickened happiness.
—Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810–89) English Poet, Writer
If you want to know how rich you really are, find out what would be left of you tomorrow if you should lose every dollar you own tonight?
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
If rich men would remember that shrouds have no pockets, they would, while living, share their wealth with their children, and give for the good of others, and so know the highest pleasure wealth can give.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
It is great wealth to a soul to live frugally with a contented mind.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free. If our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Poverty is a veil that obscures the face of greatness. An appeal is a mask covering the face of tribulation.
—Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Poverty is an anomaly to rich people. It is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
A fool and his money are soon parted. The rest of us wait for tax time.
—Common Proverb
Think it more satisfactory to live richly than die rich.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
The jests of the rich are ever successful.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Diamonds are only lumps of coal that stuck to their jobs.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.
—John Wesley (1703–91) British Methodist Religious Leader, Preacher, Theologian
The man who works need never be a problem to anyone. Opportunities multiply as they are seized; they die when neglected. Life is a long line of opportunities. Wealth is not in making money, but in making the man while he is making money. Production, not destruction, leads to success.
—John Wicker
It requires a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution to make a great fortune, and when you have got it, it requires ten times as much wit to keep it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I am indeed rich, since my income is superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not.
—Akhenaten (1378BCE–1348BCE) Egyptian Monarch, Religious Leader
Sometimes the best gain is to lose.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Worldly wealth is the devil’s bait; and those whose minds feed upon riches, recede in general from real happiness, in proportion as their stores increase; as the moon, when she is fullest of light, is farthest from the sun.
—Richard Burton (1925–84) Welsh Actor
As riches and favor forsake a man, we discover him to be a fool but nobody could find it out in his prosperity.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Get place and wealth, if possible with grace; if not, by any means get wealth and place.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
—Buddhist Teaching
Lampis the ship owner, on being asked how he acquired his great wealth, replied, “My great wealth was acquired with no difficulty, but my small wealth, my first gains, with much labor.”
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
If thou art rich, thou art poor; for, like an ass, whose back with ingots bows, thou bearest thy heavy riches but a journey, and death unloads thee.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Let us not envy some men their accumulated riches; their burden would be too heavy for us; we could not sacrifice, as they do, health, quiet, honor, and conscience, to obtain them: it is to pay so dear for them that the bargain is a loss.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
Wealth often takes away chances from men as well as poverty. There is none to tell the rich to go on striving, for a rich man makes the law that hallows and hollows his own life.
—Sean O’Casey (1880–1964) Irish Dramatist, Memoirist
That the poor are invisible is one of the most important things about them. They are not simply neglected and forgotten as in the old rhetoric of reform; what is much worse, they are not seen.
—Michael Harrington (1928–89) American Socialist, Writer, Political Activist, Academic
Speculation is the romance of trade, and casts contempt upon all its sober realities. It renders the stock-jobber a magician, and the exchange a region of enchantment.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Wealth is the product of man’s capacity to think.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher, Playwright, Screenwriter
Anticipate charity by preventing poverty; assist the reduced fellow man, either by a considerable gift or a sum of money or by teaching him a trade or by putting him in the way of business so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. This is the highest step and summit of charity’s golden ladder.
—Moses Maimonides (1135–1204) Jewish Philosopher, Rabbinic Scholar
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
I don’t know much about being a millionaire, but I’ll bet I’d be darling at it.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French Fashion Designer
The wealth of man is the number of things which he loves and blesses, which he is loved and blessed by.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
We who are rich are often demanding and difficult. We shut ourselves up in our apartments and may even use a watchdog to defend our property. Poor people, of course, have nothing to defend and often share the little they have.
When people have all the material things they need, they seem not to need each other. They are self-sufficient. There is no interdependence. There is no love.
—Jean Vanier (1928–2019) French-Canadian Philosopher, Theologian, Humanitarian
Of rich men it telleth, and strange is the story how they have, and they hanker, and grip far and wide; And they live and they die, and the earth and its glory has been but a burden they scarce might abide.
—William Morris (1834–96) British Designer, Craftsman, Poet, Writer
No just person ever became quickly rich.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Many a beggar at the crossway, or gray-haired shepherd on the plain, hath more of the end of all wealth than hundreds who multiply the means.
—Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810–89) English Poet, Writer
Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Riches have never fascinated me, unless combined with the greatest charm or distinction.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
Even the wisest woman you talk to is ignorant of something you may know, but an elegant woman never forgets her elegance.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
Money is always on its way somewhere. What you do with it while it is in your keeping and the direction you send it in say much about you. Your treatment of and respect for money, how you make it, and how you spend it, reflect your character.
—Gary Ryan Blair
Every time a man expects, as he says, his money to work for him, he is expecting other people to work for him.
—Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) British Novelist, Playwright, Essayist, Translator, Poet
If you can count your money, you don’t have a billion dollars.
—J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) American Business Person, Art Collector, Philanthropist
Money is power. Every good man and woman ought to strive for power, to do good with it when obtained. I say, get rich, get rich.
—Russell Conwell (1843–1925) American Baptist Minister, Orator, Philanthropist, Lawyer, Academic
Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do to ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
He who wishes to be rich in a day will be hanged in a year.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright, Political Activist
Nothing is more fallacious than wealth. Today it is for thee, tomorrow it is against thee. It arms the eyes of the envious everywhere. It is a hostile comrade, a domestic enemy.
—John Chrysostom (c.347–407 CE) Archbishop of Constantinople
Barring some piece of luck I have seen but few men get rich rapidly except by means that would make them writhe to have known in public.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist