Believe not much them that seem to despise riches, for they despise them who despair of them; and none are worse than they when riches come to them.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Every man thinks God is on his side. The rich and powerful know he is.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist
If I have but enough for myself and family, I am steward only for myself and them; if I have more, I am but a steward of that abundance for others.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Think and grow rich.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
A certain kind of rich man afflicted with the symptoms of moral dandyism sooner or later comes to the conclusion that it isn’t enough merely to make money. He feels obliged to hold views, to espouse causes and elect Presidents, to explain to a trembling world how and why the world went wrong. The spectacle is nearly always comic.
—Lewis H. Lapham (1935–2024) American Journalist, Author, Long-time Editor of Harper’s Magazine
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I am not rich. I am a poor man with money, which is not the same thing.
—Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927–2014) Colombian Novelist, Short-Story Writer
We are so vain as to set the highest value upon those things to which nature has assigned the lowest place. What can be more coarse and rude in the mine than the precious metals, or more slavish and dirty than the people that dig and work them? And yet they defile our minds more than our bodies, and make the possessor fouler than the artificer of them. Rich men, in fine, are only the greater slaves.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Some of God’s noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain godliness therewith. It is hard to be a saint standing in a golden niche.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Wouldst thou multiply thy riches?—diminish them wisely.—Or wouldst thou make thine estate entire?—divide it charitably.—Seeds that are scattered increase, but hoarded up they perish.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
So our Lord God commonly gave riches to those gross asses to whom he vouchsafed nothing else.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Riches are a good hand maiden, but a poor mistress.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Riches exclude only one inconvenience, and that is poverty.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Who is rich? He that rejoices in his Portion.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
A rich man, of cultivated tastes, with every right to gratify them, knowing enough of sorrow to humble his heart toward God, and soften it toward his neighbor—gifted with not only the power but will to do good, and having lived long enough to reap the fruits of an honorable youth in a calm old age—such a man, in spite of his riches, is not unlikely to enter the kingdom of heaven.
—Dinah Craik (1826–87) British Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The pride of dying rich raises the loudest laugh in hell.
—John W. Foster
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
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches as to conceive how others can be in want.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Riches without charity are nothing worth. They are a blessing only to him who makes them a blessing to others.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
The use we make of our fortune determines as to its sufficiency.—A little is enough if used wisely, and too much if expended foolishly.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
To have what we want is riches; but to be able to do without is power.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
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
He hath riches sufficient, who hath enough to be charitable.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
Public sentiment will come to be, that the man who dies rich dies disgraced.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Her voice is full of money.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
Never respect men merely for their riches, but rather for their philanthropy; we do not value the sun for its height, but for its use.
—Gamaliel Bailey (1807–59) American Journalist
Riches are chiefly good because they give us time.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
Among the very rich you will never find a really generous man, even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egoistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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