Dee Hock: Atmosphere Ownership

Meaning of Dee Hock Money Quote: saying breathing is free for now, but may be controlled by corporate owners soon. Dee Hock said:
 

“With every inhalation, I take. With every exhalation, I give. How grand it is not to buy, sell, hold, or hoard breath. Would that it were so with money. Enjoy breathing while you can, for unless something changes, it won’t be long until government awards ownership of the atmosphere to some commercial corporation to price and meter out as they please” — Dee Hock

In this quote, Dee Hock is drawing a comparison between breathing and money. He notes that with breathing, people simply inhale and exhale without needing to buy, sell, hold or hoard their breath. Hock expresses a wish that money could function in the same free and open manner.

However, he warns that unless things change, it’s possible governments may one day “award ownership” of shared resources like the atmosphere to commercial corporations. This would allow those entities to price and meter out access to something universal like air as they see fit, similar to how the financial system works.

Overall, Hock seems to be criticizing how money is treated as a commodity under the control of corporations and subject to market forces, rather than something freely available to all for basic survival. He laments that money does not share the open and equitable nature of breathing. So the quote reflects on the differences between essential natural resources and the financial system.

Birthday: March 21, 1929 – Death: July 16, 2022

Truman Capote: Time to Americans is Money

Truman Capote Money Quote saying different cultures focus on time as having relevance to differing aspects – Americans simply see time as dollars. Truman Capote said:
 

 

“Time. Time. What is time? Swiss manufacture it, French hoard it, Italians squander it, Americans say it is money” — Truman Capote

In this quote, Truman Capote seems to be making an observation about different cultural attitudes toward time and efficiency. Some key points:

• He poses the philosophical question “What is time?” perhaps implying its complex, subjective nature.
• Capote notes that the Swiss are known for manufacturing/building precision timepieces (watches).
• The French are characterized as hoarding or carefully stockpiling their time in a prudent manner.
• Italians are portrayed as wastefully spending or dissipating their time freely without reservation.
• Americans are depicted as viewing time equivalently to money – something to be economically productive with and avoid frittering away unprofitably.

Overall, Capote appears to be commenting humorously on stereotypical national mentalities toward time – the Swiss meticulously create it, French jealously guard it, Italians lavishly spend it, and Americans pragmatically monetize it. The quote offers an amusing cultural critique through comparisons of different societal mindsets.

Birthday September 30, 1924 Death: August 25, 1984

Will Durant on Prioritized Hoarding

Will Durant Money Quote saying finance folks know that time brings inflation and wisdom dictates that money stay in circulation. Will Durant said:
 

 

“Bankers know that history is inflationary and that money is the last thing a wise man will hoard” — Will Durant

Will Durant is suggesting that bankers understand from studying history that currency tends to lose value over time due to inflation. He says that a wise person will not excessively accumulate money and hoard it, since its purchasing power is likely to diminish as inflation rises.

Durant seems to be advising against viewing money as the primary goal or measure of success, and instead focusing on more meaningful pursuits that create lasting value rather than temporary wealth that could be eroded by inflation.

His quote implies that history shows money is not a secure long-term store of value, so it’s not prudent to prioritize its accumulation above all else.

Birthday: November 5, 1885 – Death: November 7, 1981