Topics · Money & Markets
Wisdom about money.
What people have learned about money the hard way, and what the classics said about it first.
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From the library
All that glisters is not gold.
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
He is a poor disciple who does not excel his master.
There is no wealth but life.
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Tao has of all things the most honoured place. No treasures give good men so rich a grace; Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
No legacy is so rich as honesty.
A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
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.
How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
They who know me are few, and I am on that account (the more) to be prized. It is thus that the sage wears (a poor garb of) hair cloth, while he carries his (signet of) jade in his bosom.
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
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?
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty. He who is satisfied with his lot is rich; he who goes on acting with energy has a (firm) will.
Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
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.
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Who thinks his great achievements poor Shall find his vigour long endure. Of greatest fulness, deemed a void, Exhaustion ne'er shall stem the tide. Do thou what's straight still crooked deem; Thy greatest art still stupid seem, And eloquence a stammering scream.
The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
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.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of purpose), and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct. I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of themselves become rich; I will manifest no ambition, and the people will of themselves attain to the primitive simplicity.'
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
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 crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves:— 'The Tao, when brightest seen, seems light to lack; Who progress in it makes, seems drawing back; Its even way is like a rugged track. Its highest virtue from the vale doth rise; Its greatest beauty seems to offend the eyes; And he has most whose lot the least supplies. Its firmest virtue seems but poor and low; Its solid truth seems…
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
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…
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the Lord lighteneth both their eyes.
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.