Anatole France: Sacred Wealth

Anatole France Money Quote saying the only thing that is considered sacred in a democracy is the almighty dollar. Anatole France said:
 

 

“In every well-governed state wealth is a sacred thing; in democracies it is the only sacred thing” — Anatole France

The best interpretation of the Anatole France quote is that in a well-governed state, wealth is considered sacred, but in democracies, it is the only sacred thing. This suggests that in democratic societies, wealth is given a higher importance than other values such as morality, justice, and the common good.

However, it’s important to note that this quote is open to interpretation and may have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Is there anything else I can help with?

Birthday: April 16, 1844 – Death: October 12, 1924

Anatole France: Cash Poor Refused Credit

Anatole France Money Quote saying those in poverty pay for everything in cash only because nobody will grant them credit – not because they are resisting debt. Anatole France said:
 

 

“It is only the poor who pay cash, and that not from virtue, but because they are refused credit” — Anatole France

This quote from Anatole France suggests that lower-income individuals tend to pay for purchases with cash rather than credit not because of personal financial responsibility, but out of necessity since they are often denied credit options.

The deeper interpretation is that France saw a lack of access to credit as another way the poor face systemic economic disadvantages compared to the wealthy. While credit allows flexibility and purchasing power, the poor are effectively “refused” this option due to being seen as too high of a lending risk.

The quote highlights the inequities built into financial systems where those with fewer resources have less choice in payment methods and face more barriers to participating fully in the consumer economy due to inadequate access to lines of credit.

Birthday: April 16, 1844 – Death: October 12, 1924

Anatole France: Law Forbids Rich Begging

Anatole France Money Quote saying the wealthy are forbidden from panhandling and stealing food, just as it does the poor. Anatole France said:
 

 

“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets and to steal bread” — Anatole France

This quote by Anatole France is satirizing the notion of equal treatment and fairness under the law. On a surface level, it points out that laws against things like sleeping outdoors, begging, or stealing technically apply to all people regardless of wealth or social status.

However, the deeper meaning is that such laws have an unequal practical impact, as the rich are not truly prevented in the same way from meeting basic needs. A rich person would never realistically resort to sleeping under a bridge or stealing food due to easy access to alternative options using wealth and resources.

So while the law may be written in a way that is equally prohibitive on paper, it does not recognize social and economic inequalities that can effectively exempt the wealthy from its strictures in reality. The quote highlights the disconnect between legal equality and lived experience of inequality in society.

Birthday: April 16, 1844 – Death: October 12, 1924