Topics · Money & Markets
Wisdom about abundance & wealth.
What people have learned about abundance & wealth the hard way, and what the classics said about it first.
Discussions
Community rules
- Speak from experience. Say what you lived and what you learned. Advice without a story is easy to ignore.
- Be kind to the person. Disagree with an idea as much as you like. Never with someone’s worth.
- Not a substitute for care. Nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice. In crisis, reach out to local services.
- No selling. No promotion, referral links or pitching your course.
From the library
All that glisters is not gold.
I exist as I am, that is enough.
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
The poetry of earth is never dead.
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production.
The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best.
Creditors have better memories than debtors.
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Who is content Needs fear no shame. Who knows to stop Incurs no blame. From danger free Long live shall he.
We are such stuff as dreams are made on.
I am large, I contain multitudes.
A great man is always willing to be little.
It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.
What is prudence in the conduct of every private family can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
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.
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.
I celebrate myself, and sing myself.
Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
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.
Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.
Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
Or fame or life, Which do you hold more dear? Or life or wealth, To which would you adhere? Keep life and lose those other things; Keep them and lose your life:—which brings Sorrow and pain more near?
Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe. 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.
My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Tao when nursed within one's self, His vigour will make true; And where the family it rules What riches will accrue! The neighbourhood where it prevails In thriving will abound; And when 'tis seen throughout the state, Good fortune will be found. Employ it the kingdom o'er, And men thrive all around.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
(Those who) possessed in highest degree the attributes (of the Tao) did not (seek) to show them, and therefore they possessed them (in fullest measure). (Those who) possessed in a lower degree those attributes (sought how) not to lose them, and therefore they did not possess them (in fullest measure).
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, and he has appointed his three ducal ministers, though (a prince) were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large enough to fill both the hands, and that as the precursor of the team of horses (in the court-yard), such an offering would not be equal to (a lesson of) this Tao, which one might present on his knees.
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty. They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth;—such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of men all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost…
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
How do I know that it is so? By these facts:—In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people; the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan; the more acts of crafty dexterity that men possess, the more do strange contrivances appear; the more display there is of legislation, the…
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.