Seeing is believing, and if an American success is to count for anything in the world it must be clothed in the raiment of property. As often as not it isn’t the money itself that means anything; it is the use of money as the currency of the soul.
—Lewis H. Lapham (1935–2024) American Journalist, Author, Long-time Editor of Harper’s Magazine
The recognition of private property has really harmed Individualism, and obscured it, by confusing a man with what he possesses. It has led Individualism entirely astray. It has made gain, not growth its aim. So that man thought that the important thing is to have, and did not know that the important thing is to be.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Our houses are such unwieldy property that we are often imprisoned rather than housed by them.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Where there is no property there is no injustice.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
How many are the things I can do without!
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Ultimately property rights and personal rights are the same thing.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
As long as our civilization is essentially one of property, of fences, of exclusiveness, it will be mocked by delusions. Our riches will leave us sick; there will be bitterness in our laughter; and our wine will burn our mouth. Only that good profits, which we can taste with all doors open, and which serves all men.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Material blessings, when they pay beyond the category of need, are weirdly fruitful of headache.
—Philip Wylie (1902–71) American Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Screenwriter
The accumulation of property is no guarantee of the development of character, but the development of character, or of any other good whatever, is impossible without property.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
I have no concern with any economic criticisms of the communist system; I cannot inquire into whether the abolition of private property is expedient or advantageous. But I am able to recognize that the psychological premises on which the system is based are an untenable illusion. In abolishing private property we deprive the human love of aggression of one of its instruments… but we have in no way altered the differences in power and influence which are misused by aggressiveness.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
Private property began the instant somebody had a mind of his own.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Professors in every branch of the sciences, prefer their own theories to truth: the reason is that their theories are private property, but truth is common stock.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Few rich men own their property; the property owns them.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Justice is the insurance we have on our lives and property, and obedience is the premium we pay for it.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
An argument fatal to the communist theory, is suggested by the fact, that a desire for property is one of the elements of our nature.
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Political/Social Theorist
Upon the sacredness of property civilization itself depends – the right of the laborer to his hundred dollars in the savings bank, and equally the legal right of the millionaire to his millions.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Author, Philanthropist
The earth is the general and equal possession of all humanity and therefore cannot be the property of individuals.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
The love of property and consciousness of right and wrong have conflicting places in our organization, which often makes a man’s course seem crooked, his conduct a riddle.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
I told my mother-in-law that my house was her house, and she said, “Get the hell off my property”.
—Joan Rivers (1933–2014) American Comedienne, Writer
Once you have decided to keep a certain pile, it is no longer yours; for you can’t spend it.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Some men are born to own, and can animate all their possessions. Others cannot: their owning is not graceful; seems to be a compromise of their character: they seem to steal their own dividends.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
No man acquires property without acquiring with it a little arithmetic also.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Property, n. Any material thing, having no particular value, that may be held by A against the cupidity of B. Whatever gratifies the passion for possession in one and disappoints it in all others. The object of man’s brief rapacity and long indifference.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
The invectives against capital in the hands of those who have it, are double-faced, and when turned about are nothing but demands for capital in the hands of those who have it not, in order that they may do with it just what those who have it are now doing with it.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
Possession, it is true, crowns exertion with rest; but it is only in the illusions of fancy that it has power to charm us.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Linguist, Statesman
Do not dismayed daughters, at the number of things which you have to consider before setting out on this divine journey, which is the royal road to heaven. By taking this road we gain such precious treasures that it is no wonder if the cost seems to us a high one. The time will come when we shall realize that all we have paid has been nothing at all by comparison with the greatness of our prizes.
—Teresa of Avila (1515–82) Spanish Carmelite Nun, Mystic
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