I always thought I was Jeanne d'Arc and Bonaparte. How little one knows oneself.
Charles De GaulleRead
There is no intrinsic worth in money but what is alterable with the times, and whether a guinea goes for twenty pounds or for a shilling, it is the labor of the poor and not the high and low value that is set on gold or silver, which all the comforts of life must arise from.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Money's value is subjective and tied to labor, not its physical worth.
This quote highlights the idea that money itself does not possess inherent value; rather, its worth fluctuates with societal change and is ultimately derived from the labor that creates the wealth it represents. The comfort and richness of life stem not from the metal itself, like gold or silver, but from the hard work and effort of individuals, particularly those who are often overlooked in discussions about wealth and value.
Themes
MoneyValueLaborWealthPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the economic crisis, this quote can emphasize the importance of labor over monetary value.
Similar quotes
I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.
Jonathan SwiftRead
I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.
AristotleRead
It seemed to Scobie that life was immeasurably long. Couldn’t the test of man have been carried out in fewer years? Couldn’t we have committed our first major sin at seven, have ruined ourselves for love or hate at ten, have clutched at redemption on a fifteen-year-old deathbed?
Graham GreeneRead
It is a great comfort to know that our judge will be none other than our savior.
John StottRead
In so far as the mind sees things in their eternal aspect, it participates in eternity.
Baruch SpinozaRead