Opening the book…
Opening the book…
Security, desire, generosity, and the meaning we give to wealth.
“When did your relationship with money change? What happened, and what do you do differently now?”
Related passages from different traditions. Read them together, or follow a question that interests you.
Riches, once gained, satisfy nothing and often corrupt the soul that chases them.
17 passages · 6 traditions
O man, know this, that the unrestrained are in a bad state; take care that greediness and vice do not bring thee to grief for a long time!
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 18.v.248, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
There is no satisfying lusts, even by a shower of gold pieces; he who knows that lusts have a short taste and cause pain, he is wise.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 14.v.186, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Pleasures destroy the foolish, if they look not for the other shore; the foolish by his thirst for pleasures destroys himself, as if he were his own enemy.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 24.v.355, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Ecclesiastes 5:10, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
Ensnared / In nooses of a hundred idle hopes, / Slaves to their passion and their wrath, they buy / Wealth with base deeds, to glut hot appetites.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 16, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
True sufficiency comes from contentment with little, not from accumulating more.
21 passages · 9 traditions
And they are, moreover, happy in this, that they only covet so much as their natural necessities require: all beyond that is superfluous to them.
— Renaissance humanism · Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Of Cannibals, tr. Charles Cotton, ed. W. C. Hazlitt, 1877 ↗
Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches; trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana the highest happiness.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 15.v.204, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs 30:8-9, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy.
Deliberately shedding wealth and excess frees a person to live with greater integrity and purpose.
18 passages · 3 traditions
"The abandonment of their old mode of life is like dust in the balance. It is done gradually, incidentally, imperceptibly. Thus the whole question of the abandonment of luxury is no question at all, but a mere incident to another question, namely, the degree to which we abandon ourselves to the remorseless logic of our love for others."
— The turn of the century · William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Lectures XII–XIII, 1902 ↗
Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn the old; return to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Conclusion, 1854 ↗
I have learned that the swiftest traveller is he that goes afoot.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Economy, 1854 ↗
Generosity is most virtuous when it seeks nothing back, and giving is itself a form of receiving.
22 passages · 8 traditions
But the God-fearing shall dwell amid gardens and fountains, Enjoying what their Lord hath given them, because, aforetime they were well-doers: But little of the night was it that they slept, And at dawn they prayed for pardon, And gave due share of their wealth to the suppliant and the outcast.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 51:15-19, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Defer not charities till death; for, certainly, if a man weigh it rightly, he that doth so, is rather liberal of another man's, than of his own.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Riches, 1625 ↗
Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Riches, 1625 ↗
RICHES are for spending, and spending for honor and good actions. Therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion.
Virtue, knowledge, and character are the only possessions that death or misfortune cannot take away.
20 passages · 7 traditions
But thou, want not! ask not! Find full reward Of doing right in right! Let right deeds be Thy motive, not the fruit which comes from them. And live in action! Labour! Make thine acts Thy piety, casting all self aside, Contemning gain and merit; equable In good or evil: equability Is Yog, is piety!
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 2, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
And good works which abide, are in thy Lord's sight better in respect of guerdon, and better in the issue than all worldly good.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 19:76, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Matthew 6:19-21, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
The desire for wealth is often really desire for status, and both distort character and relationship.
27 passages · 5 traditions
You may take it as a general rule that you will not lose a friend by refusing him a loan, but that you are very likely to do so by granting it; and, for similar reasons, you will not readily alienate people by being somewhat proud and careless in your behaviour; but if you are very kind and complaisant towards them, you will often make them arrogant and intolerable, and so a breach will ensue.
— Nineteenth-century philosophy · Arthur Schopenhauer, Counsels and Maxims, Section 28, tr. T. Bailey Saunders, 1890 ↗
A scholar, whose mind is set on truth, and who is ashamed of bad clothes and bad food, is not fit to be discoursed with.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 4.9, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
The vain man sees the respect which is paid to rank and fortune, and wishes to usurp this respect, as well as that for talents and virtues. His dress, his equipage, his way of living, accordingly, all announce both a higher rank and a greater fortune than really belong to him; and in order to support this foolish imposition for a few years in the beginning of his life, he often reduces himself to poverty and distress long before the end of it.
— The Enlightenment ·
Honesty in commerce, fair wages, and just distribution are moral obligations, not optional virtues.
20 passages · 8 traditions
I cannot call riches better than the baggage of virtue. The Roman word is better, impedimenta. For as the baggage is to an army, so is riches to virtue. It cannot be spared, nor left behind, but it hindereth the march; yea, and the care of it, sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Riches, 1625 ↗
Those who when they spend are neither lavish nor niggard, but keep the mean.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 25:67, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
money is like muck, not good except it be spread.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Seditions and Troubles, 1625 ↗
He that borrows from man is as one who borrows from God, blessed be He, as it is said, 'the wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous deal graciously and give.'
But he who shall have his book given into his left hand, will say, 'O that my book had never been given me! And that I had never known my reckoning! O that death had made an end of me! My wealth hath not profited me! My power hath perished from me!'
Woe to every Backbiter, Defamer! Who amasseth wealth and storeth it against the future! He thinketh surely that his wealth shall be with him for ever.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 93-104.104:1-3, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Truly, Man is to his Lord ungrateful. And of this he is himself a witness; and truly, he is vehement in the love of this world's good.
From greed comes grief, from greed comes fear; he who is free from greed knows neither grief nor fear.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 16.v.216, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
"These sons belong to me, and this wealth belongs to me," with such thoughts a fool is tormented. He himself does not belong to himself; how much less sons and wealth?
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 5.v.62, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
While they have not got their aims, their anxiety is how to get them. When they have got them, their anxiety is lest they should lose them. When they are anxious lest such things should be lost, there is nothing to which they will not proceed.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 17.15, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
THE DESIRE of increasing riches occupieth you, Till ye come to the grave.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 107-92.102:1-2, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Hast thou marked him who believeth not in our signs, and saith, 'I shall surely have riches and children bestowed upon me?' Hath he mounted up into the secrets of God? Hath he made a compact with the God of Mercy?
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 19:77-78, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Wise people do not call that a strong fetter which is made of iron, wood, or hemp; far stronger is the care for precious stones and rings, for sons and a wife.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 24.v.345, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
But as to him who is covetous and bent on riches, And calleth the Good a lie, To him will we make easy the path to misery: And what shall his wealth avail him when he goeth down?
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 107-92.92:8-11, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Envy, lust and [the desire for] honor put a man out of the world.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 4:21, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 14.11, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Ecclesiastes 4:6, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
Care should be taken not to build the happiness of life upon a broad foundation—not to require a great many things in order to be happy. For happiness on such a foundation is the most easily undermined; it offers many more opportunities for accidents; and accidents are always happening. Accordingly, to reduce your claims to the lowest possible degree, in comparison with your means,—of whatever kind these may be—is the surest way of avoiding extreme misfortune.
— Nineteenth-century philosophy · Arthur Schopenhauer, Counsels and Maxims, Section 3, tr. T. Bailey Saunders, 1890 ↗
Who is wise? He who learns from every man. Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination. Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 4:1, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Ecclesiastes 5:12, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
Let him not despise what he has received, nor ever envy others: a mendicant who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 25.v.365, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Who is content needs fear no shame. Who knows to stop incurs no blame. From danger free long live shall he.
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow;-- I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honours acquired by unrighteousness, are to me as a floating cloud.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 7.15, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, 1854 ↗
There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.
They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes beautiful; their (poor) dwellings places of rest; and their common (simple) ways sources of enjoyment.
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty, full; the worn out, new. He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many goes astray.
Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former.
I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast. The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others. With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour.
A man might have applied that to him, which is recorded of Socrates, that he knew how to want, and to enjoy those things, in the want whereof, most men show themselves weak; and in the fruition, intemperate: but to hold out firm and constant, and to keep within the compass of true moderation and sobriety in either estate, is proper to a man, who hath a perfect and invincible soul.
— Stoicism · Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 1.XIII, tr. Meric Casaubon (1634/1635) ↗
They will do; but they are not equal to him, who, though poor, is yet cheerful, and to him, who, though rich, loves the rules of propriety.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 1.15, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
It is life near the bone where it is sweetest. You are defended from being a trifler. Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Conclusion, 1854 ↗
Let us live happily then, though we call nothing our own! We shall be like the bright gods, feeding on happiness!
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 15.v.200, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
It is desirable that a man be clad so simply that he can lay his hands on himself in the dark, and that he live in all respects so compactly and preparedly, that, if an enemy take the town, he can, like the old philosopher, walk out the gate empty-handed without anxiety.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Economy, 1854 ↗
This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of it, reminds me of the Englishman who went to India to make a fortune first, in order that he might return to England and live the life of a poet. He should have gone up garret at once.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Economy, 1854 ↗
As in a supreme sorrow lesser vexations may become a consolation; as a supreme love may turn minor sacrifices into gain; so a supreme trust may render common safeguards odious, and in certain glows of generous excitement it may appear unspeakably mean to retain one's hold of personal possessions.
— The turn of the century · William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Lectures XII–XIII, 1902 ↗
No doubt they can ride at last who shall have earned their fare, that is, if they survive so long, but they will probably have lost their elasticity and desire to travel by that time.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Economy, 1854 ↗
I am convinced, that if all men were to live as simply as I then did, thieving and robbery would be unknown. These take place only in communities where some have got more than is sufficient while others have not enough.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, The Ponds (opening narrative), 1854 ↗
Let not to get a living be thy trade, but thy sport. Enjoy the land, but own it not. Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling, and spending their lives like serfs.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Baker Farm, 1854 ↗
He who aims to be a man of complete virtue in his food does not seek to gratify his appetite, nor in his dwelling place does he seek the appliances of ease; he is earnest in what he is doing, and careful in his speech; he frequents the company of men of principle that he may be rectified:-- such a person may be said indeed to love to learn.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 1.14, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Conclusion, 1854 ↗
Let him who has work to do recollect that the object of clothing is, first, to retain the vital heat, and secondly, in this state of society, to cover nakedness, and he may judge how much of any necessary or important work may be accomplished without adding to his wardrobe.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Economy, 1854 ↗
If one would live simply and eat only the crop which he raised, and raise no more than he ate, and not exchange it for an insufficient quantity of more luxurious and expensive things, he would need to cultivate only a few rods of ground... and he could do all his necessary farm work as it were with his left hand at odd hours in the summer; and thus he would not be tied to an ox, or horse, or cow, or pig, as at present.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Economy, 1854 ↗
As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, 1854 ↗
The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough. Poverty is its ornament. It does not need plenty, and can very well abide its loss.
— Transcendentalism · Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, Heroism §10, 1844 ↗
They measure their esteem of each other by what each has, and not by what each is. But a cultivated man becomes ashamed of his property, out of new respect for his nature.
— Transcendentalism · Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, Self-Reliance, §4, 1844 ↗
It is life near the bone where it is sweetest. You are defended from being a trifler. Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Conclusion, 1854 ↗
I found thus that I had been a rich man without any damage to my poverty.
— Transcendentalism · Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, 1854 ↗
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Expense, 1625 ↗
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Ecclesiastes 11:1-2, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
Yet he attempted not the steep. And who shall teach thee what the steep is? It is to ransom the captive, Or to feed in the day of famine, The orphan who is near of kin, or the poor that lieth in the dust.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 90-80.90:11-16, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Who giveth away his substance that he may become pure; And who offereth not favours to any one for the sake of recompense, But only as seeking the face of his Lord the Most High.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 107-92.92:18-20, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
The sacrifice which Knowledge pays is better than great gifts Offered by wealth, since gifts' worth--O my Prince!-- Lies in the mind which gives, the will that serves.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 4, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
There are four types of charity givers. He who wishes to give, but that others should not give: his eye is evil to that which belongs to others; He who wishes that others should give, but that he himself should not give: his eye is evil towards that which is his own; He who desires that he himself should give, and that others should give: he is a pious man; He who desires that he himself should not give and that others too should not give: he is a wicked man.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 5:13, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Matthew 6:3-4, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
The sage does not accumulate (for himself). The more that he expends for others, the more does he possess of his own; the more that he gives to others, the more does he have himself.
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, 1 John 3:17-18, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
And bestow not favours that thou mayest receive again with increase; And for thy Lord wait thou patiently.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 74:6-7, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
The gift selfishly given, where to receive Is hoped again, or when some end is sought, Or where the gift is proffered with a grudge, This is of Rajas, stained with impulse, ill.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 17, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
Of great riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Riches, 1625 ↗
The gift lovingly given, when one shall say 'Now must I gladly give!' when he who takes Can render nothing back; made in due place, Due time, and to a meet recipient, Is gift of Sattwan, fair and profitable.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 17, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
The gift churlishly flung, at evil time, In wrongful place, to base recipient, Made in disdain or harsh unkindliness, Is gift of Tamas, dark; it doth not bless!
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 17, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
And of whose substance there is a due and stated portion For him who asketh, and for him who is ashamed to beg.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 70:24-25, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a quarter (a farthing); reverence shown to the righteous is better.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 8.v.108, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
But as to him who giveth alms and feareth God, And yieldeth assent to the Good; To him will we make easy the path to happiness.
The uncharitable do not go to the world of the gods; fools only do not praise liberality; a wise man rejoices in liberality, and through it becomes blessed in the other world.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 13.v.177, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
There's a gift for you which cost the giver no money, but nothing which he bought could have been as good.
— Transcendentalism · Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, GIFTS, 1844 ↗
That which a man is, does always by necessity acquire, and what the man acquires is living property, which does not wait the beck of rulers, or mobs, or revolutions, or fire, or storm, or bankruptcies, but perpetually renews itself wherever the man breathes.
— Transcendentalism · Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, Self-Reliance, §4, 1844 ↗
Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Job 1:21, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
When a man passes away there accompany him neither gold nor silver, nor precious stones nor pearls, but Torah and good deeds alone.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 6:9, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
The duke Ching of Ch'i had a thousand teams, each of four horses, but on the day of his death, the people did not praise him for a single virtue. Po-i and Shu-ch'i died of hunger at the foot of the Shau-yang mountain, and the people, down to the present time, praise them.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 16.12, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs 22:1, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
The more Torah, the more life; The more sitting [in the company of scholars], the more wisdom; The more counsel, the more understanding; The more charity, the more peace. If one acquires a good name, he has acquired something for himself; If one acquires for himself knowledge of Torah, he has acquired life in the world to come.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 2:7, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
everything is given against a pledge, and a net is spread out over all the living; the store is open and the storekeeper allows credit, but the ledger is open and the hand writes… the judgment is a righteous judgment, and everything is prepared for the banquet.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 3:16, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
And ORNAMENTS OF GOLD: for all these are merely the good things of the present life; but the next life doth thy Lord reserve for those who fear Him.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 43:35, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, 1 John 2:17, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Matthew 6:24, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
Aye, but ye love the transitory, And ye neglect the life to come.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 78-75.75:20-21, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
The day when neither wealth nor children shall avail, Save to him who shall come to God with a sound heart.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 26:88-89, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
The gift of the law exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of the law exceeds all sweetness; the delight in the law exceeds all delights; the extinction of thirst overcomes all pain.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 24.v.354, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Yet, the right act Is less, far less, than the right-thinking mind. Seek refuge in thy soul; have there thy heaven! Scorn them that follow virtue for her gifts!
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 2, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
give to Him of that which is His, for you and that which is yours is His; and thus it says with regards to David: 'for everything comes from You, and from Your own hand have we given you.'
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 3:7, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven, better than lordship over all worlds, is the reward of the first step in holiness.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 13.v.178, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Thought and knowledge are natures in which apparatus and pretension avail nothing. Gowns and pecuniary foundations, though of towns of gold, can never countervail the least sentence or syllable of wit.
— Transcendentalism · Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, The American Scholar, 1844 ↗
When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself. When the work is done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven.
But were they ever so secret and successful, the honest man, if he has any tincture of philosophy, or even common observation and reflection, will discover that they themselves are, in the end, the greatest dupes, and have sacrificed the invaluable enjoyment of a character, with themselves at least, for the acquisition of worthless toys and gewgaws.
— The Enlightenment · David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Section preceding Appendix I, 1751 ↗
If the search for riches is sure to be successful, though I should become a groom with whip in hand to get them, I will do so. As the search may not be successful, I will follow after that which I love.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 7.11, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
When a country is well-governed, poverty and a mean condition are things to be ashamed of. When a country is ill-governed, riches and honour are things to be ashamed of.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 8.13, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
If the chief part of human happiness arises from the consciousness of being beloved, as I believe it does, those sudden changes of fortune seldom contribute much to happiness. He is happiest who advances more gradually to greatness, whom the public destines to every step of his preferment long before he arrives at it.
— The Enlightenment · Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, CHAP. V, 1759 ↗
Are you in prosperity? Do not confine the enjoyment of your good fortune to your own house, to the company of your own friends, perhaps of your flatterers, of those who build upon your fortune the hopes of mending their own; frequent those who are independent of you, who can value you only for your character and conduct, and not for your fortune.
— The Enlightenment · Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Part III, Ch. 3 (ninth paragraph), 1759 ↗
When he is angry, he thinks of the difficulties (his anger may involve him in). When he sees gain to be got, he thinks of righteousness.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 16.10, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
As for life therefore, and death, honour and dishonour, labour and pleasure, riches and poverty, all these things happen unto men indeed, both good and bad, equally; but as things which of themselves are neither good nor bad; because of themselves, neither shameful nor praiseworthy.
— Stoicism · Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 2.VIII, tr. Meric Casaubon (1634/1635) ↗
Do not be desirous to have things done quickly; do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 13.17, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
A superior man helps the distressed, but does not add to the wealth of the rich.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 6.3, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow;-- I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honours acquired by unrighteousness, are to me as a floating cloud.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 7.15, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
While they have not got their aims, their anxiety is how to get them. When they have got them, their anxiety is lest they should lose them. When they are anxious lest such things should be lost, there is nothing to which they will not proceed.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 17.15, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Power, riches, honour, even health, and the general well-being and contentment with one's condition which is called happiness, inspire pride, and often presumption, if there is not a good will to correct the influence of these on the mind, and with this also to rectify the whole principle of acting and adapt it to its end.
— The Enlightenment · Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, SEC_1, tr. Thomas Kingsmill Abbott, 1873 ↗
When good government prevails in a state, to be thinking only of salary; and, when bad government prevails, to be thinking, in the same way, only of salary;-- this is shameful.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 14.1, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort. The superior man thinks of the sanctions of law; the small man thinks of favours which he may receive.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 4.11, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 4.12, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
If the people have plenty, their prince will not be left to want alone. If the people are in want, their prince cannot enjoy plenty alone.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 12.9, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
When the person in authority is beneficent without great expenditure; when he lays tasks on the people without their repining; when he pursues what he desires without being covetous; when he maintains a dignified ease without being proud; when he is majestic without being fierce.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 20.2.1, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Rulers of States and chiefs of families are not troubled lest their people should be few, but are troubled lest they should not keep their several places; that they are not troubled with fears of poverty, but are troubled with fears of a want of contented repose among the people in their several places. For when the people keep their several places, there will be no poverty; when harmony prevails, there will be no scarcity of people; and when there is such a contented repose, there will be no rebellious upsettings.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 16.1, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Though a man have abilities as admirable as those of the Duke of Chau, yet if he be proud and niggardly, those other things are really not worth being looked at.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 8.11, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
They contemn one another, and yet they seek to please one another: and whilest they seek to surpass one another in worldly pomp and greatness, they most debase and prostitute themselves in their better part one to another.
— Stoicism · Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 11.XIII, tr. Meric Casaubon (1634/1635) ↗
The ambitious supposeth another man's act, praise and applause, to be his own happiness; the voluptuous his own sense and feeling; but he that is wise, his own action.
— Stoicism · Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.XLVI, tr. Meric Casaubon (1634/1635) ↗
The man, who in the view of gain, thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends:-- such a man may be reckoned a COMPLETE man.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 14.13, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
The stable being burned down, when he was at court, on his return he said, 'Has any man been hurt?' He did not ask about the horses.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 10.12, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 2:9, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
The labourer is worthy of his hire.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke 10:7, tr. King James Version (1611/1769) ↗
he that cleareth by degrees, induceth a habit of frugality, and gaineth as well upon his mind, as upon his estate.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Expense, 1625 ↗
Generally, in the giving pay or rewards to men, to do it in a stingy way;-- this is called acting the part of a mere official.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 20.2.3, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
He used himself coarse food and drink, but displayed the utmost filial piety towards the spirits. His ordinary garments were poor, but he displayed the utmost elegance in his sacrificial cap and apron. He lived in a low mean house, but expended all his strength on the ditches and water-channels.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 8.21, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
In festive ceremonies, it is better to be sparing than extravagant. In the ceremonies of mourning, it is better that there be deep sorrow than a minute attention to observances.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 3.4, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Aye. But ye honour not the orphan, Nor urge ye one another to feed the poor, And ye devour heritages, devouring greedily, And ye love riches with exceeding love.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 78-75.89:17-20, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Believe not much, them that seem to despise riches; for they despise them, that despair of them; and none worse, when they come to them.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Riches, 1625 ↗
Woe to those who STINT the measure: Who when they take by measure from others, exact the full; But when they mete to them or weigh to them, minish-
It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of man. He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance.
it is better to mitigate usury, by declaration, than to suffer it to rage, by connivance.
— Renaissance humanism · Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Of Usury, 1625 ↗
There are four types of character in human beings: One that says: "mine is mine, and yours is yours": this is a commonplace type; and some say this is a sodom-type of character. [One that says:] "mine is yours and yours is mine": is an unlearned person; [One that says:] "mine is yours and yours is yours" is a pious person. [One that says:] "mine is mine, and yours is mine" is a wicked person.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 5:10, tr. Joshua Kulp, Mishnah Yomit (Sefaria, CC-BY) ↗
The Negro farmer started behind,—started in debt. This was not his choosing, but the crime of this happy-go-lucky nation which goes blundering along with its Reconstruction tragedies, its Spanish war interludes and Philippine matinees, just as though God really were dead. Once in debt, it is no easy matter for a whole race to emerge.
— The turn of the century · W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, Of the Black Belt, 1903 ↗
wherever we depart from this equality, we rob the poor of more satisfaction than we add to the rich, and that the slight gratification of a frivolous vanity, in one individual, frequently costs more than bread to many families, and even provinces.
— The Enlightenment · David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Part II, 1751 ↗
And let not thy hand be tied up to thy neck; nor yet open it with all openness, lest thou sit thee down in rebuke, in beggary.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 17:29, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
If the people have plenty, their prince will not be left to want alone. If the people are in want, their prince cannot enjoy plenty alone.
— Confucianism · Confucius, Analects, 12.9, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Fill the measure, and be not of those who minish: Weigh with exact balance: And defraud not men in their substance, and do no wrong on the earth by deeds of licence.