Ralph Waldo Emerson: Dollar Worth More
on Wednesday, November 8, 2017Ralph Waldo Emerson Money Quote saying money has value different in one place than another with a different atmosphere or custom. Good in positive places and less in bad surroundings. Ralph Waldo Emerson said:
“The value of a dollar is, to buy just things: a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius, and all the virtue of the world. A dollar in a university, is worth more than a dollar in a jail” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
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In this quote, Ralph Waldo Emerson seems to be contrasting the potential value that can be derived from money depending on how and where it is utilized. By stating that a dollar increases in worth through “all the genius, and all the virtue of the world”, Emerson appears to mean that money gains additional value when used in contexts that cultivate positive human qualities like knowledge, creativity, moral character, and personal growth.
He then directly compares a dollar in a “university” being worth more than in a “jail”, implying educational and intellectual settings amplify money’s impact versus carceral environments. Overall, Emerson conveys the view that financial resources are best applied to purposes elevating humanity, as this is what truly increases their significance and returns – not just their nominal purchasing power but their ability to foster higher human potential.