What do you think about this quote?
By mattic
@mattic (282)
United States
November 7, 2010 10:43am CST
"But you say that money is made by the strong at the expense of the weak? What strength do you mean? It is not the strength of guns or muscles. Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think. Then is money made by the man who invents the motor at the expense of those who did not invent it? Is money made by the intelligent at the expense of the fools? By the able at the expense of the incompetent? By the ambitious at the expense of the lazy? Money is made-before it can be looted or mooched-made by the effort of every honest man, each to the extent of his ability. An honest man is one who knows that he can't consume more than he has produced."
2 responses
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
8 Nov 10
Never mind, he did use the word HONEST. A word that Lloyd has NEVER used in his life.
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
8 Nov 10
It is an interesting quote, and since I do not know who said it, I will not say I totally agree with it.
It starts with the typical class warfare mantra that those who have money have it at the expense of the weak. Of course that is not true. The truth is that those who have the wealth have the opportunity to help others to prosper. If I do not have wealth, then I cannot create jobs; neither can I help them with food or clothing. If I have wealth, then I am part of that smaller percentage of the population that pays most of the taxes.
In one sense, every American has the same opportunity to make a million. Of course in another sense, life is not fair, and only a certain number of people will have a real shot at that kind of income.
Another concept that is shouted out is the idea that anyone who is strong, intelligent, able, ambitious and honest is a villain. For the people who have these abilities, only have them because they took advantage of the others. Once again, this is false.
The last sentence strikes me as different, but I think I see the intent. Maybe, I would modify it to say, "An honest man is one who knows that he can't consume more than he has produced or has been given to him."
Let me illustrate.
I work every day at my job and I earn $100 per week. My great grandfather was a slave, so the government gives me another $200 per week. Am I honest if I consume $300 per week?
Of course, this assumes that the person giving him the $200 per week actually earned it, and did not steal it from someone else.
