Henry David Thoreau: Sell Servants

Posted by admin on Saturday, July 18, 2020

Henry David Thoreau Money Quote saying we lack the drive and belief in ourselves, so instead live as slaves to work. Henry David Thoreau said:
 

 

“Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants” — Henry David Thoreau

 

 

In this quote, Henry David Thoreau is criticizing how many people passively accept their circumstances in life and act merely as “servants” to the routines of commerce. When he refers to a “want of enterprise and faith”, he means a lack of initiative, ambition and self-determination.

Thoreau seems to believe that if people had more courage to explore new opportunities through “enterprise” and conviction in their own abilities through “faith”, they would not be so content to just “buy and sell” in service of others without advancing their own conditions.

The quote suggests Thoreau viewed passive participation in the economic system of his day, without efforts to achieve greater independence or fulfillment, as a wasted life spent in subservience rather than pursuing one’s potential.

Birthday: July 12, 1817 – Death: May 6, 1862

Colin Powell: Poverty Assault on Dignity

Posted by admin on Friday, August 10, 2018

Colin Powell Money Quote saying poverty is normal where corruption is routine and free enterprise is lacking and law is disrespected. Colin Powell said:
 

 

“Poverty arises and persists where corruption is endemic and enterprise is stifled, where basic fairness provided by the rule of law is absent. In such circumstances, poverty is an assault against human dignity, and in that assault lies the natural seed of human anger” — Colin Powell

 

 

In this quote, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell seems to be explaining some of the root causes of persistent poverty. He suggests that poverty often arises and continues in places that lack basic rule of law and fairness, where corruption is rampant and business/entrepreneurship is suppressed. Powell describes poverty existing in such circumstances as “an assault against human dignity”.

The interpretation is that Powell believes poverty flourishes when governments and societies fail to provide an even playing field, allow corruption to dominate, and stifle economic opportunity through overregulation or lack of property rights/contract enforcement. He indicates this type of poverty breeds resentment and “human anger”, as it denies people the ability to better their conditions through lawful and industrious means.

Overall, Powell appears to be attributing poverty in part to failures of governance and economics according to his view expressed in this quote.