The moment a man gets money, so many men are trying to get it away from him that in a little while he regards the whole human race as his enemy, and he generally thinks that they could be rich too if they would only attend to business as he has. Understand, I am not blaming these people.… We must remember that these rich men are naturally produced. Do not blame them. Blame the system.
—Robert Ingersoll
Prefer loss to the wealth of dishonest gain; the former vexes you for a time; the latter will bring you lasting remorse.
—Chilo
Maybe it would be better to acknowledge, like the Greeks, that a lot of behavior we call addiction is really a love of pleasure that carries the force of habit. We become addicted mostly because of the central issue in all self-control problems, which is the disproportionate value we place on short-term rewards.
—Kin Hubbard
Anyone may have diamonds: an heirloom is an ornament of quite a different kind.
—Oprah Winfrey
Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn't changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I'm just wearing better shoes.
—Rex Stout
Nothing is more admirable than the fortitude with which millionaires tolerate the disadvantages of their wealth.
—Seneca
It is the sign of a weak mind to be unable to bear wealth.
—Thomas Browne
Wealth is the slave of a wise man. The master of a fool.
—Sophocles
He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.
—Socrates
There is inherited wealth in this country and also inherited poverty.
—John F. Kennedy
Real wealth consists in things of utility and beauty, in things that help to create strong, beautiful bodies and surroundings inspiring to live in.
—Emma Goldman
If you count all your assets you always show a profit.
—Wilson Mizner
The paths by which people journey toward happiness lie in part through the world about them and in part through the experience of their souls. On the one hand, there is the happiness which comes from wealth, honor, the enjoyment of life, from health, culture, science, or art; and, on the other hand, there is the happiness which is to be found in a good conscience, in virtue, work, philanthropy, religion, devotion to great ideas and great deeds.
—Carl Hilty in Happiness: Essays on the Meaning of Life
Money doesn't always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars.
—Hobart Brown
The American myth that anyone who works hard will get ahead, and that wealth accumulation is a product of individual effort and merit, is no longer sustainable.
—Manning Marable