Our wealth is often a snare to ourselves, and always a temptation to others.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Gold is worse poison to men’s souls, doing more murders in this loathsome world, than any mortal drug.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
After a rich man gets rich, his next ambition is to get richer.
—U.S. Proverb
Wealth unused might as well not exist.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Of the wealth of the world each has as much as they take.
—Italian Proverb
It is only when the rich are sick that they fully feel the impotence of wealth.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Look at a gown of gold, and you will at least get a sleeve of it.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
That plenty should produce either covetousness or prodigality is a perversion of providence; and yet the generality of men are the worse for their riches.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
The best condition in life is not to be so rich as to be envied nor so poor as to be damned.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
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
It is far more easy to acquire a fortune like a knave than to expend it like a gentleman.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
—American Indian Proverb
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
A rich man is either a scoundrel or the heir of a scoundrel.
—Spanish Proverb
Wealth is not acquired, as many persons suppose, by fortunate speculations and splendid enterprises, but by the daily practice of industry, frugality, and economy. He who relies upon these means will rarely be found destitute, and he who relies upon any other, will generally become bankrupt.
—Francis Wayland (1796–1865) American Educator, Clergyman
High descent and meritorious deeds, unless united to wealth, are as useless as seaweed.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Poverty is a veil that obscures the face of greatness. An appeal is a mask covering the face of tribulation.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
Before we set our hearts too much on anything, let us examine how happy are those who already possess it.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Don’t fool yourself that you are going to have it all. You are not. Psychologically, having it all is not even a valid concept. The marvelous thing about human beings is that we are perpetually reaching for the stars. The more we have, the more we want. And for this reason, we never have it all.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
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 only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it.
—Antoine de Rivarol (1753–1801) French Writer, Epigrammatist
A fortune is usually the greatest of misfortunes to children. It takes the muscles out of the limbs, the brain out of the head, and virtue out of the heart. In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice—no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
If the United States is to produce a nation of investors-as we must if we are to gain financial world-leadership-it is imperative that boards of directors be so constituted as to adequately represent the interests and inspire the complete confidence of investors of moderate substance.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
We are stripped bare by the curse of plenty.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Riches are chiefly good because they give us time.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
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