J. Paul Getty: Meek Inherit Earth
on Wednesday, October 11, 2023Meaning of J. Paul Getty Money Quote: saying the meek shall be heirs and inherit everything except the rights to mine minerals. J. Paul Getty said:
“The meek shall inherit the Earth, but not its mineral rights” — J. Paul Getty
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This quote from J. Paul Getty suggests that while religious texts may promise the meek or mild-mannered will inherit the earth after Judgment Day, they will not inherit valuable underground mineral resources, which Getty implies will be controlled by the ambitious and wealthy. Some key points in interpreting his perspective:
- Getty portrays mineral rights and the profits they enable as being reserved for those assertive enough to claim and exploit them commercially through enterprises rather than passively waiting for divine rewards.
- He implies the profitable development and private ownership of natural resources will go to those with the drive, capital and industry to extract minerals and bring them to market.
- However, reasonable people can disagree on the appropriate balance between public/private or commercial/environmental interests in the development and management of natural resources over time.
- Getty’s quote reflects his view that success and riches correlate with boldness and initiative rather than meekness alone, but a balanced interpretation acknowledges complex debates around optimizing resource policy for broad-based welfare.
Overall, the quote conveys Getty’s belief that subsurface mineral assets require human effort and investment to harness, not passive inheritance. But the best analysis considers this perspective as one viewpoint in ongoing discussions balancing economic, social and environmental priorities across populations for sustainable prosperity.
Birthday: December 15, 1892 – Death: June 6, 1976