Anne Bradstreet: Good Inheritance Wisdom

Anne Bradstreet Money Quote saying Hey! Why not a little bit of wealth with that genius? Better than a dope without cash, but either way, I’ll take it! Anne Bradstreet said:
 

 

“Wisdom with an inheritance is good, but wisdom without an inheritance is better than an inheritance without wisdom” – Anne Bradstreet

In this quote, Anne Bradstreet is comparing the value of wisdom and inheritance. She argues that it is better to possess wisdom even without an inheritance, than to have an inheritance without wisdom. By saying “wisdom with an inheritance is good”, she acknowledges the benefits of having both qualities.

However, she asserts that wisdom alone, without wealth or property passed down, is still superior to simply having an inheritance or wealth without the quality of wisdom.

The overall message is that wisdom and knowledge are more important and valuable possessions than money or material wealth alone. Having wisdom allows one to make the best use of resources, whereas an inheritance without wisdom could be squandered or mismanaged.

Birthday: March 8, 1612 – Death: September 16, 1672

Frederick Douglass: Inheritance Not Shared

Frederick Douglass Money Quote saying On July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, he gave one of his most famous speeches, “What to the slave is the 4th of July?” He was addressing the Rochester Ladies Antislavery Society. Frederick Douglass said:
 

 

“The blessings in which you this day rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me” — Frederick Douglass

In this quote, Frederick Douglass is pointing out the stark differences in how Independence Day was experienced and celebrated by white Americans versus black Americans like himself who were still enslaved.

He suggests that while white citizens delighted in the blessings of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence secured by the American Revolution, these rights and privileges were not shared equally or enjoyed commonly by black people who remained in bondage.

The quote highlights Douglass’ view that the rich inheritance of the nation’s founding ideals did not extend to African Americans, and that true freedom was still denied to people of his race on a day proclaimed to honor liberty.

#4thOfJuly
Birthday February 14, 1818 – Death: February 20, 1895

Frederick Douglass, ca. 1879. George K. Warren. (National Archives Gift Collection)
Exact Date Shot Unknown
NARA FILE #: 200-FL-22
WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 113

Johann Kaspar Lavater: Divided Inheritance

Johann Kaspar Lavater Money Quote saying we don’t completely understand the character of anyone until we split an inheritance with them. Johann Kaspar Lavater said:
 

 

“Say not you know another entirely, till you have divided an inheritance with him” — Johann Kaspar Lavater

In this quote, Johann Kaspar Lavater is suggesting that inheriting wealth with someone is the true test of how well you know their character. By stating one should not claim to know another “entirely” until dividing an inheritance together, Lavater implies that sharing a monetary windfall often reveals inner qualities and priorities that remain hidden under normal circumstances.

The interpretation is that Lavater views the stresses of allocating a shared financial windfall as exposing each party’s integrity, priorities, sense of fairness and true nature in ways daily interactions do not. His perspective conveys inheritance as a crucible that lays bare inner traits, since money can bring out selfishness, greed or vindictiveness when interests are not perfectly aligned.

Overall, the quote presents Lavater as believing one cannot fully understand another without observing their conduct when substantial mutual financial interests are at stake and must be equitably divided or negotiated.

Birthday: November 15, 1741 – Death: January 2, 1801

Proverbs: Leave an Inheritance for Children

Proverbs 13:22 Money Quote saying good people leave their wealth to their family, but bad people have it taken away for good. Proverbs 13:22 said:
 

 

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” — Proverbs 13:22

This Bible verse from Proverbs suggests that the righteous pass on blessings not just to their direct descendants, but to future generations as well through their faithful example and the fruits of their labor. In contrast, it implies that the wealth amassed by the ungodly may ultimately benefit the virtuous rather than their own kin.

The best interpretation is that the passage encourages living according to moral principles so as to have a long-lasting positive legacy, not just material prosperity. One’s good deeds and character and their effects on society endure in a way that mere possessions do not.

Overall, the verse promotes focusing one’s efforts on cultivating integrity and compassion rather than fleeting riches alone, as this foundational wealth is what truly outlives a person and enriches the lives of those to come after them for generations.

Janet Yellen: 50% Inheritances to Top 5%

Janet Yellen Money Quotation saying wealth willed to top 5% represents half of all inherited money, staying within already rich families. Janet Yellen said:
 

 

“Just over half of the total value of inheritances went to the top 5 percent and 40 percent went to households in the next 45%” — Janet Yellen

In this quote, Janet Yellen is providing statistics about the distribution of inheritances among American households. She states that just over half of the total value of all inheritances went to the top 5% highest-earning households. Additionally, she notes that the next 45% of households (those between the 5th and 50th percentiles) received 40% of the total inheritance value.

This quote suggests there is significant inequality in the receipt of intergenerational wealth transfers like inheritances. Yellen’s figures indicate that the top half of households in terms of income receive the vast majority of bequests from deceased family members. The quote sheds light on how concentrated inheritance wealth is among higher-income families in the United States.

Karl Kraus: Inheriting Wisdom

Karl Kraus Money Quotation saying suggesting that it is far more valuable to gain experience and earn wisdom than to save cash and store earnings. Karl Kraus said:
 

 

“Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside. Wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust” — Karl Kraus

In this quote, Karl Kraus is contrasting experiences and wisdom. He argues that experiences are like savings that accumulate over time through effort and diligence. However, wisdom is more akin to an inheritance in that it cannot be depleted no matter how unwisely one acts (“a wastrel”).

The implication is that experiences can be “put aside” and collected gradually, but wisdom gained from those experiences becomes a permanent possession that will remain with a person even if they squander other resources or live unproductively.

So in summary, the quote views experiences as a savings that can be depleted, whereas wisdom obtained from experiences is seen as a more enduring inheritance or possession that is not diminished by poor decisions or wasteful behavior.

Birthday: April 28, 1874 – Death: June 12, 1936