Rich or smart
By natnickeep
@natnickeep (2336)
United States
July 24, 2009 6:55pm CST
So my question is, would you rather be rich or smart? Would you rather have all the money you could need or want but no real wisdom. Or be one of the smartest people in the world but only able to use your smarts to teach and help other people not to gain any profit though?
The reason I ask this question is because of rumors I have heard about the government trying to "dumb down America". I am not sure if these accusations of filling us with emptiness to profit the already rich people are true. But it just really got me thinking. Everyone wants to be wealthy, cause money buys everything these days. It even buys pride and love sometimes. You can be born into wealth and not ever have to work for it. Before there was money, we found pride in our work, and what we got out of it not the money we got paid for it. I try to look at the positive things in the world but sometimes it's just hard.
I think I would rather be smart. But the more knowledge it seems I come across, the more depressing the reality seems. The truth is money runs the world now, not us, so maybe I would rather be stupid and rich.
What about you?
3 people like this
18 responses
@kcoregon (302)
• United States
25 Jul 09
Well you can't really be very rich if you are without knowledge. You could lose your money easily by accountants and bookkeepers who are better at math than you. Or you could be stupid and blow it all like MC. But still if you were allowed to be rich and not have to worry about losing your money I still wouldn't want to be rich and stupid. Because then I would likely be too stupid to use the money for any good and would waste it. To be smart and to use my knowledge to help people well that would give the type of satisfaction one couldn't get with all the money in the world.
2 people like this
@kholid78 (341)
• Indonesia
25 Jul 09
Ingenuity will always be able to survive on all the problems.
Everyone who has it always needed by others.
It's a guarantee that his presence will be maintained by others, either he want it or not.
It's only because he always can make positive/innovative trends.
@VladProd (62)
• Romania
25 Jul 09
I'd rather be smart,not necessarily rich.But if you are smart,you can become rich :)
And what you said is true,the system nowadays tries to 'dumb down' people.Maybe not only government,it's bigger than that.It's about the bankers that rule the world nowadays,the big corporations etc.
1 person likes this
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
27 Jul 09
Yep it is. It is all about the money. I know about the bankers ruling the world. I have read all about it when I started reading up on conspiracy theories and stuff. The luminati and all that. One world government. Money is so evil and if anything will end human race I am sure that will play a big part in it.
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
25 Jul 09
I think rich would be nice. Not all smart people get rich but all rich people can hire someone who is smart to do their wishes. A lot of smart people do not have jobs these days and they can hardly pay their bills. Yep, reality bites! He who has the fold makes the rules these days. It's not about who is smart but rather who is has the power to command wealth.
1 person likes this
@kholid78 (341)
• Indonesia
25 Jul 09
I'll give an illustration as follows:
A very richman makes a trip out by plane.
Behind him there's a scientist, eventhough he is not rich but he can go by plane
Because it's financed by the state.
In the trip, the plane has a trouble and finally fell right in the junggle.
There is very knowledgeable.
Only two men survived : the richman and the scientist. There's no tool communication remaining.
So, who can survive there? ... you can answer it easily.
1 person likes this
@LaurenInLA (2270)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I would so love to think that my motives would be altruistic but sigh, I too would choose to be rich. If I were rich, I could hire enough smart people to teach and help other people and at the same time have enough money for myself. Great question. Thought provoking.
1 person likes this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I believe that they go hand-in-hand because if you're rich then you can afford to pay for an education to become smarter. If you're really smart, it could definitely lead to some great job or career opportunities or at least some money-making ideas, right?
I consider myself to be an intelligent individual & I have an above average IQ. I could definitely use more monetary riches but I am extremely happy to be blessed with life-richness = )
If I could only choose one, it would probably be money because, unfortunately, it's what makes the world go 'round! If I were wealthy then I could further my education which would, in turn, lead to financial gain... the possibilities are never-ending!
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
25 Jul 09
Well i guess being smart is more important yea because being smart you could earn more money by being smart but if you are rich but stupid , you will keep losing money until your wealth is gone finally yea .
@kprofgames (3091)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I would rather be smart. I'm a pretty simple person and I think a brain will take you farther then money will.
1 person likes this
@my_name_is_coco (4333)
• Philippines
25 Jul 09
I prefer to be smart.if I am smart,I can think of ways to be rich.wisdom cannot be bought,even if a person has a lot of money.wisdom comes with age,life experiences, and the willingness to learn and improve one's self.wisdom beats wealth anytime.
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I'll take smart I think. If I have money without being smart, I won't have it long, so I'll take smart. With my smarts I can always get money and if I have real smarts I'll be able to keep it!!
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
25 Jul 09
Again the question was if you could never use those smarts for your own profit would you still want to be smart. Like teach the homeless what you know and help other people, or be so rich that you never would run out of money no matter how stupid you were.
@tomjoad (551)
• Philippines
25 Jul 09
it would have been great if i was both rich and smart! however, since you want me to choose let me see. i think i would rather be smart. for me even you are rich, that really compensates to nothing if you nobody likes you because you are dull. i'm not really the type of person who's very ambitious and i find myself content with just having enough money for my needs. you may call me weird but i would be very happy if i could provide my future family well, even if i won't be considered rich by worldly standards. i would rather have a wonderful family and great friends and be SMART even if i don't have millions. for me, those are already riches. 
1 person likes this
@defcon505 (919)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I want to be smart so I can be rich. Being offers many opportunities.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
25 Jul 09
The question stated you wouldn't be allowed to use your smarts for your own profit.
@Basil2004 (105)
•
25 Jul 09
I am afraid money always was a big factor in making the world go round. I would like to be totally stupid and naive but then again if I was and was incredibly rich at the same time I could employ a team of advisers. Maybe I am being too cynical. I like things as they are with me being a tiny bit smart and having a tiny bit of money.
@zhoutianxingchen (18)
• China
25 Jul 09
I would like to be smart.Anyhow,the world need some pepole who is smart to create and develop.
