Logan Pearsall Smith: Sell Souls

Logan Pearsall Smith Money Quote saying people will sell their soul without hesitation and live on the money. Logan Pearsall Smith said:
 

 

“Most people sell their souls, and live with a good conscience on the proceeds” — Logan Pearsall Smith

In this quote, Logan Pearsall Smith is suggesting that many people compromise their principles or integrity in exchange for money or other benefits, yet feel no guilt or remorse about doing so.

Specifically, he portrays people as essentially “selling their souls” – trading away their morality, values or conscience – in return for financial proceeds or rewards. However, Smith notes that despite this bargain, most people still live with a “good conscience” and do not see anything wrong with their actions.

The best interpretation is that Smith believed it was all too easy for individuals to rationalize or justify compromising their ethics in exchange for material gain, as long as it benefited them personally. He saw modern society as one where people could sell their souls yet feel no inner conflict about prioritizing self-interest over principles.

Birthday: October 18, 1865 – March 2, 1946

Logan Pearsall Smith: Tampering with Money Taboos

Logan Pearsall Smith Money Quotation saying money makes many seem to be controlled by irrational forces that might be compared to sex drive, which is only controlled by societal taboos and then only in public. Logan Pearsall Smith said:
 

 

“Money and sex are forces too unruly for our reason; they can only be controlled by taboos which we tamper with at our peril” — Logan Pearsall Smith

In this quote, Logan Pearsall Smith is discussing how money and sex are two very powerful drives or “forces” that are difficult for human reason and rational thinking to fully control on their own. He argues that societies establish “taboos” or social/cultural restrictions around money and sexuality as a way to place boundaries on these innate but potentially disruptive instincts.

Smith’s view is that if we disregard or undermine these taboos too much (“tamper with” them), it puts us at risk of being overwhelmed or harmed by unchecked desires for money/status or libidinal urges.

The quote conveys that some degree of social conditioning and norm-setting helps moderate our relationship with these primal yet unruly aspects of human nature, for better regulation than leaving them entirely to personal “reason”. So in essence, Smith sees taboos as serving an important regulating function for money and sex.

Birthday: October 18, 1865 – March 2, 1946

Logan Smith: Behavior of Rich

Logan Pearsall Smith Money Quotation saying few believe that having money will change them – but what most fail to realize is they become more of what they already are. Logan Pearsall Smith said:
 

 

“To suppose as we all suppose, that we could be rich and not behave as the rich behave, is like supposing that we could drink all day and stay sober” — Logan Pearsall Smith

This quote from Logan Pearsall Smith suggests that becoming wealthy often fundamentally changes people’s behavior and mindset in predictable ways, regardless of one’s intentions. It implies that most people, if suddenly acquiring great wealth, would likely start to act and make decisions similar to other rich individuals, even if they believe themselves immune to such influences beforehand.

The quote uses the analogy that becoming rich is like drinking alcohol – just as one cannot drink all day and expect to avoid becoming intoxicated, one cannot become rich without adopting at least some typical behaviors and tendencies of the wealthy, no matter their original character or self-image.

Birthday: October 18, 1865 – March 2, 1946