Tess Gerritsen: Credit Cards Battle

Meaning of Tess Gerritsen Money Quote: saying an alternative form of battle might be considered as platinum vs gold cards. Tess Gerritsen said:

 

 

“This is the way modern men do battle, not with spear and sword, but with credit cards. My platinum beats your gold” — Tess Gerritsen

This quote from Tess Gerritsen suggests that for some, competing financially through displays of wealth and status has replaced more direct forms of combat between men. Some key points in interpreting her perspective:

• She portrays “modern men” as engaging in contests of one-upmanship not with weapons, but by comparing elite credit cards as symbols of affluence and spending power.
• Gerritsen implies this has become a subtle yet competitive way for some to assert dominance or bragging rights through flaunting expensive plastic.
• However, reasonable observers may disagree on whether consumption primarily reflects character or individual priorities and circumstances can vary greatly.
• Her tone also suggests an element of social commentary, recognizing materialism as a prevalent cultural dynamic even if not universally representative of all individuals.

Overall, while reflecting certain mindsets, a balanced interpretation acknowledges both Gerritsen’s perspective and the diversity of human motivations – neither violence nor commercialism alone define relationships or determine a person’s worth in complex societies.

Alan Greenspan: Savings Inflation

Meaning of Alan Greenspan Money Quote: suggesting that the gold standard protects savings from inflation by a store of value. Alan Greenspan said:
 

 

“In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. There is no safe store of value” — Alan Greenspan

In this quote, Alan Greenspan expresses the view that without linking a currency to a gold standard, people’s savings are vulnerable to erosion via inflation.

By saying there is “no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation”, Greenspan suggests that when fiat money can be printed at will by governments, inflation can act as a hidden tax on savers that slowly diminishes the real value of their assets over time.

He implies that gold, as a commodity with intrinsic value not controlled by any one entity, serves as a more secure “safe store of value” against this threat.

Overall, the quote conveys Greenspan’s belief that inflation poses a risk to savings under a fiat monetary system without the discipline of being convertible to gold.

Buzzie Bavasi: Golden Rules

Buzzie Bavasi Money Quote saying those who have the wealth are those that write the rule book. Buzzie Bavasi said:
 

 

“We live by the Golden Rule. Those who have the gold make the rules” — Buzzie Bavasi

Richard Burton: Hoards Riches

Richard Burton Money Quote saying a frugal guy that doesn’t enjoy the dough is just a work-horse for the cash. Richard Burton said:
  

 

“A man that hoards up riches and enjoys them not, is like an ass that carries gold and eats thistles” — Richard Burton

In this quote, Richard Burton is drawing a comparison between someone who accumulates wealth but does not use it to enjoy life, and a donkey that carries valuable gold coins yet can only eat thistles, a spiky weed with little nutritional value.

The best interpretation is that Burton believes amassing riches just for the sake of hoarding them, without taking time to experience and benefit from the financial security provided, is a foolish waste akin to a beast of burden nurturing only on thorns while hauling around treasure it cannot access.

Overall, Burton appears to be saying that the purpose of earning or having money is to improve one’s quality of living and ability to find enjoyment or fulfillment. Merely stockpiling wealth without using it for personal gain or pleasure is as nonsensical as a donkey filled with gold yet subsisting on vegetation that brings it no benefit.

Birthday: November 10, 1925 – Death: August 5, 1984

Willard Scott: Retirement Fund

Willard Scott Money Quote saying a quality marriage can be compared to a good investment in that it appreciates over time to peak in golden years. Willard Scott said:
 

 

“A good marriage is like an incredible retirement fund. You put everything you have into it during your productive life, and over the years it turns from silver to gold to platinum” — Willard Scott

In this quote, Willard Scott seems to be using the metaphor of a retirement fund to describe the evolution and rewards of a strong marriage over time. Specifically:

• Scott portrays a good marriage as like making significant “deposits” into a retirement account through the investments of love, commitment, sacrifice and effort one makes while in their “productive” working years of life.
• He notes that just as investments gain value over decades, a marriage deepens and its rewards become more apparent as the years pass (“turns from silver to gold to platinum”).
• Scott implies that just as a retirement fund provides sustenance and security in older age, the emotional, social and practical support of a healthy marriage grows more invaluable as one reaches later stages of life.

The best interpretation is that Scott believes a marriage that stands the test of time becomes an increasingly precious resource, much like a retirement account that compounds in value the longer it accrues. His quote conveys the perspective that making “deposits” into a marriage through the active years ultimately pays profound lifelong dividends according to his metaphor for marriage’s capacity to enrich all seasons of life.

Birthday: March 7, 1934 – Death: September 4, 2021

John Quincy Adams: Mint of Gold

John Quincy Adams Money Quote saying our desire begins with little, but grows to wish for ever more as we acquire. John Quincy Adams said:
 

 

“Man wants but little here below Nor wants that little long, ‘Tis not with me exactly so; But ’tis so in the song. My wants are many, and, if told, Would muster many a score; And were each wish a mint of gold, I still should long for more” — John Quincy Adams

In this quote, John Quincy Adams is contrasting the sentiment expressed in the well-known poem “The Want Not” with his own personal experience and nature. In the poem, it states that man wants “but little here below” and does not desire even that “little long”.

However, Adams says “it is not exactly so” for him. He acknowledges his desires and wants are in fact “many” and numerous, not easily satisfied or contained.

Adams also suggests that even if each wish could magically be granted and transform into gold or wealth, his appetite and ambition would remain insatiable, as he “still should long for more”.

The quote conveys Adams’ self-awareness that unlike the poem’s characterization of human contentment, he possesses an innate drive and constant craving for more accomplishments, experiences and material gain in life.

Birthday: July 11, 1767 – Death: February 23, 1848

Adam Smith: Labor Wealth

Adam Smith Money Quote saying It was work that bought the world, not money or precious metals, but labor that bought the wealth of the world. Adam Smith said:
 

 

“Labour was the first price, the original purchase – money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labour, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased” — Adam Smith

In this quote, Adam Smith is discussing the origins and fundamental role of labor in the creation of wealth. He states that “labor was the first price, the original purchase-money” used to obtain all things of value in the world.

Smith is arguing that throughout history, it was not gold, silver or other currencies that were primarily used to acquire wealth, but rather human labor itself. People exchanged their labor and work as the original “payment” to produce useful goods, services and assets.

In essence, the quote establishes labor as the original and most basic form of payment that drove early economic transactions and allowed for the accumulation of wealth over time. Smith sees labor as the primary commodity exchanged by humans to fulfill their needs and desires, long before money was established. It reflects his view that labor is the ultimate source of all value in an economy.

Birthday: c. 16 June – Death: July 17, 1790

Daniel Webster: Irredeemable Paper

Daniel Webster Money Quote saying there are nothing by bankruptcies, cheating, lies and unkept promises with nothing but paper to show for the trouble. Daniel Webster said:
 

 

“We are in danger of being overwhelmed with irredeemable paper, mere paper, representing not gold nor silver; no sir, representing nothing but broken promises, bad faith, bankrupt corporations, cheated creditors and a ruined people” — Daniel Webster

In this quote, Daniel Webster is warning about the dangers of having too much paper currency, or “irredeemable paper”, in circulation without being backed by a commodity like gold or silver. By “irredeemable paper” he is referring to banknotes or promissory notes that are not redeemable for specie (gold or silver coins). Webster believed that having a currency made up solely of paper notes without commodity backing would lead to a loss of confidence in the value of money.

This in turn could lead to “broken promises” if banks could not redeem paper money for gold/silver as promised, “bad faith” if the paper currency was not trustworthy, “bankrupt corporations” as businesses struggled without a stable currency, “cheated creditors” who could not collect debts of known value, and ultimately a “ruined people” as the economy suffered from a lack of sound money.

In essence, Webster was warning of the dangers of fiat currency not tied to a commodity standard, and the economic and social problems that could arise from having “mere paper” as legal tender without real value behind it. He felt this could overwhelm and ruin the country’s financial system and prosperity.

Birthday: January 18, 1782 – Death: October 24, 1852