Russell Baker: Wallet vs Happiness
on Sunday, January 13, 2013Russell Baker Money Quote saying things that make us richer in happiness or love or enjoyment of life experience are not seen as wealth builders, nor will they impress a banker. Russell Baker said:
“It seems to be a law of American life that whatever enriches us anywhere except in the wallet inevitably becomes uneconomic” — Russell Baker
In this quote, Russell Baker is commenting on how certain things that enrich society or improve quality of life in non-financial ways tend to be viewed as “uneconomic” or not worthwhile from a purely monetary perspective in American culture.
Baker suggests that while experiences, relationships, community involvement, education, the arts or time with family may fulfill higher human needs and make life more meaningful, if they do not directly lead to increased income, they are often deemed unimportant or unproductive by economic standards.
The quote implies a criticism that American society over-emphasizes wealth accumulation and sees too little value in enrichments that cannot be measured in dollars.
Baker argues many aspects of a thriving society that uplift people’s lives in non-monetary ways will still be undervalued as long as the sole measure of their worth remains financial.
Birthday: August 14, 1925 – Death: January 21, 2019