Percy Bysshe Shelley: Generous Broker

Percy Bysshe Shelley Money Quote saying it seems unusual that the person most generous is one least expected, a broker. Percy Bysshe Shelley said:
 

 

“It is not odd that the only generous person I ever knew, who had money to be generous with, should be a stockbroker?” — Percy Bysshe Shelley

In this quote, Percy Bysshe Shelley is commenting humorously on his surprise at encountering a generous stockbroker. By describing it as “not odd” but phrasing it as a question,

Shelley suggests it is actually quite unusual to find someone in the stockbroking profession, which can often emphasize profit and wealth accumulation, displaying true generosity with their financial means.

The quote implies Shelley viewed stockbrokers as typically more focused on personal gain than giving to others. By singling out this individual stockbroker as “the only generous person” he knew who also had money to spare, Shelley emphasizes that in his experience, possessing wealth did not commonly go hand in hand with open-handed generosity.

Overall, the quote wryly points out the irony Shelley found in a stockbroker of all people breaking the mold of his expectations for their profession through genuinely generous behavior.

Birthday: August 4, 1792 – Death: July 8, 1822

Frank Clark: Generous Time Money

Frank A. Clark Money Quote saying we all have our generosity, but generous with lots of different things. Frank A. Clark said:
 

 

“We’re all generous, but with different things, like time, money, talent – criticism” — Frank A. Clark

In this quote, Frank A. Clark is making a humorous observation about different types of generosity that people exhibit. He suggests that while everyone can be generous with some things, like giving their time, money or talents to help others, many people are also quite generous when it comes to being critical of others.

The quote implies that it is easy for people to freely dispense criticism of other people and their faults, even if they are less open-handed with other forms of generosity that don’t involve judgment or negativity.

Overall, Clark is commenting lightheartedly on how criticism seems to be one type of “generosity” or outpouring that people tend not to be stingy about, even if they limit their generosity in other more positive ways.

P.D. James: Generosity a Virtue

P.D. James Money Quote saying that being generous is something that doesn’t apply to governments like it might to individuals. P.D. James said:
 

 

“Generosity is a virtue for individuals, not Governments. When governments are generous it is with other people’s money, other people’s safety, other people’s future” — P.D. James

In this quote, P.D. James is expressing skepticism about government generosity and spending programs. She argues that while generosity can be virtuous for individuals using their own private resources, governments do not have that same virtue when being generous since they are spending “other people’s money” taken from taxpayers.

James also suggests government generosity can compromise “other people’s safety” and “future” through growing debt and obligations.

The quote conveys James’ view that governments lack true virtue when being open-handed with public funds, since citizens ultimately bear both the financial and indirect costs, unlike private individuals who choose to freely give only their own private resources.

Overall, she seems to be cautioning against seeing government spending programs in the same positive light as private acts of generosity.

Birthday: August 3, 1920 – November 27, 2014

Carol Ryrie Brink: Generous Give Silently

Carol Ryrie Brink Money Quote saying that giving for the pleasure it provides and the good it does for others – is the mark of the truly generous person. Carol Ryrie Brink said:
 

 

“The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward” — Carol Ryrie Brink

In this quote, Carol Ryrie Brink is expressing her view that the most genuinely generous people are those who give help or aid to others discreetly and without seeking recognition or personal benefit in return.

By saying they give “silently without hope of praise or reward”, Brink suggests the true measure of generosity is selflessness – helping others simply for its own sake, not to boost one’s ego or reputation.

The quote conveys Brink’s belief that the most virtuous form of giving involves no fanfare, boasting or expectation of gain, but rather comes from a place of sincere compassion without strings attached.

Overall, she seems to be highlighting that true generosity is defined not by acknowledgment but by intention – doing good for others freely and humbly, with no ulterior motives beyond the act of giving itself.

John F. Kennedy: Buy Only Necessary Votes

John F. Kennedy Money Quote saying in jest that his father wanted to get his money’s worth in buying an election and didn’t want him to waste any on public perception. John F. Kennedy said:
 

 

“I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; Dear Jack, Don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide” — John F. Kennedy

In this quote, John F. Kennedy is humorously recounting advice his father, Joseph Kennedy, gave him regarding an election. By saying “don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary”, JFK’s father is telling him to only spend as much money as needed on campaigning and getting votes, rather than trying to achieve an overwhelming landslide victory.

The elder Kennedy follows this up by joking that he doesn’t want to “pay for a landslide”, implying he doesn’t want to waste campaign funds on getting more votes than actually required to win.

Overall, this quote shows the Kennedys’ recognition of how money could influence electoral outcomes, as well as their pragmatic approach of focusing resources only on securing the minimum number of votes rather than seeking a huge margin of victory. It provides an amusing glimpse into the candid advice a father might give his son running for office.

Birthday: May 29, 1917 – Death: November 22, 1963

Robert Louis Stevenson: Personal Desires

Robert Louis Stevenson Money Quote saying everyone believes that if they made enough money – THEN they will be charitable, but charity fails to appear. Robert Louis Stevenson said:
 

 

“It is a mere illusion that, above a certain income, the personal desires will be satisfied and leave a wider margin for the generous impulse” — Robert Louis Stevenson

In this quote, Robert Louis Stevenson is expressing skepticism about the idea that having a high income will necessarily lead to greater generosity. By calling it “a mere illusion” that personal desires will be satisfied above a certain income level, Stevenson suggests that as earnings rise, so do expectations and wants, leaving less inclination to be open-handed with surplus funds.

He implies that the “generous impulse” may not grow stronger even for wealthy individuals because financial wants tend to expand to meet available resources.

Overall, the quote conveys Stevenson’s view that affluence does not guarantee generosity, as personal desires have a way of absorbing excess money that could otherwise support charitable causes or help those in need. Simply having more income does not necessarily translate to a broader margin for giving according to Stevenson.

Birthday: November 13, 1850 – Death: December 3, 1894

John Ray: Happiness in Generosity

John Ray Money Quotation saying happiness and a giving spirit are the origin of wealth and the bearers of those qualities are rich – though not necessarily in terms of cash. John Ray said:
 

 

“Money was made for the free-hearted and generous” — John Ray

John Ray seems to be suggesting that money is best used and enjoyed by those who are generous and free-hearted with it, rather than by those who are miserly or greedy.

The quote implies that money is a tool that should enable people to freely and generously help others, rather than being hoarded or used solely for one’s own benefit.

In other words, true happiness comes from using wealth to better the lives of others, not from amassing riches only for oneself.