Aristotle: Money-Making Compulsion

Meaning of Aristotle Money Quote: saying We live our lives money-making because we must to survive, it is not the end-goal, but necessity. Aristotle said:
 

 

“The life of money-making is one undertaken under compulsion, and wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking; for it is merely useful and for the sake of something else” — Aristotle

In this quote, Aristotle is making a couple key points about money-making and wealth:

1. He says that the life of constantly striving to make and accumulate money is essentially one that is undertaken out of compulsion or necessity rather than by choice. In other words, people feel obligated or forced to pursue wealth for survival rather than it being a truly free and fulfilling life path.
2. Aristotle asserts that wealth itself is not and should not be the ultimate “good” that people are seeking in life. Money is merely a useful tool or means to some other end, but not inherently a worthwhile goal by itself.

So in essence, Aristotle seems to be arguing that constantly chasing money and riches for their own sake is not a truly happy or purposeful way for people to live. Wealth is just a pragmatic necessity and instrument for achieving other goals, values or ends, but not the real source of well-being, fulfillment or virtue according to Aristotle.

Birthday: January 6, 384 BC – Death: March 7, 322 BC

Herman Melville: Money-Making

Herman Melville Money Quote saying that humans are at heart giving, but money-making grasps the heart more firmly. Herman Melville said:
 

 

“Man is a money-making animal, which propensity too often interferes with his benevolence” — Herman Melville

In this quote, Herman Melville seems to be making an observation about human nature and priorities. Specifically:

• Melville describes man as a “money-making animal” – implying the drive to generate wealth is a basic instinct or motivation for many people.
• However, he notes that this “propensity” or natural inclination toward accumulating riches “too often interferes with” acting with genuine kindness, goodwill or charity toward others (“benevolence”).
• Melville appears to believe the preoccupation with maximizing income can undermine more altruistic impulses if allowed to dominate one’s mindset and choices.

The best interpretation is that Melville believed the human tendency to prioritize profit-seeking is a common trait, but one that risks crowding out consideration for others’ well-being if unchecked.

His quote conveys a perspective that financial gain should not displace compassion as the overriding motivator, even if money-making comes naturally to people according to their basic nature in Melville’s view.

Birthday: August 1, 1819 – Death: September 28, 1891

Woody Harrelson: Pesticide Money

Woody Harrelson Money Quote saying that pesticides were the result of a money-making chemist adapting chemical weapons for people to bugs. Woody Harrelson said:
 

 

“Pesticides came about after the first world war. Some brainy petrochemical money maker said, ‘Hey, that mustard gas worked great on people, maybe we could dilute it down and spray it on our crops to deal with pests'” — Woody Harrelson

In this quote, actor Woody Harrelson is criticizing the origins of pesticides in a blunt, sarcastic manner. He suggests that pesticides were initially conceived when chemical companies realized poisonous gases used in World War I could be diluted and repurposed as agricultural products to kill crop pests. Harrelson implies this application emerged from a profit-driven motive rather than concern for human or environmental safety.

His tone conveys skepticism about allowing corporate or military interests to influence development of technologies that impact public health and the environment. Overall, the quote portrays pesticide creation as an unintended consequence of weapons research, and questions whether maximizing financial gain should be the primary driver of introducing chemicals into the food system and ecosystem.

William James: Grown Afraid to be Poor

William James Money Quote saying we have made poverty a thing to fear, rather than appreciating and valuing the inner life, while scrambling for wealth is revered. William James said:
 

 

“We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life. If he does not join the general scramble and pant with the money-making street, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition” — William James

In this quote, William James is criticizing the mentality that had developed in society by his time of viewing poverty as something to be greatly feared and avoided at all costs.

James notes that people had “grown literally afraid to be poor”, seeing it as a terrible state to be in. He also calls out the tendency to “despise” those who consciously choose a simpler, less materialistic lifestyle with lower costs in order to prioritize “inner life” and spiritual/intellectual pursuits over wealth accumulation.

James suggests there is a prevailing attitude that if someone does not relentlessly “pant” after money and status like others engaged in the “general scramble”, they are deemed as “spiritless” and “lacking in ambition”.

The overall interpretation is that James is challenging the stigma surrounding poverty and material modesty during his era, arguing people should not be defined or judged solely by their income or net worth. He appears to be advocating for allowing individuals the freedom to define success on their own terms according to this quote.

Birthday: January 11, 1842 – Death: August 26, 1910

Dalai Lama: Money Machine Cogs

Dalai Lama Money Quote saying we are at risk of allowing the money-making machine to draw in humanity rather than using wealth to serve us. Dalai Lama said:
 

 

“In today’s materialistic world there is a risk of people becoming slaves to money, as though they were simply cogs in a huge money-making machine. This does nothing for human dignity, freedom, and genuine well-being. Wealth should serve humanity, and not the other way around” — Dalai Lama

In this quote, the Dalai Lama is cautioning against allowing money and materialism to become all-consuming priorities that undermine human dignity. He argues that in today’s consumerist society, there is a risk people will view themselves as mere “cogs in a huge money-making machine” focused solely on wealth accumulation.

However, the Dalai Lama believes this approach does not lead to real freedom or well-being. Instead, he advocates that wealth should serve humanity by improving people’s lives and communities, rather than humanity existing solely to generate riches.

Overall, the Dalai Lama is encouraging a balanced perspective where inner fulfillment and relationships are not sacrificed for financial gain alone, and where wealth is used to uplift society instead of being pursued as an end in itself.

In today’s materialistic world there is a risk of people becoming slaves to money, as though they were simply cogs in a huge money-making machine. This does nothing for human dignity, freedom, and genuine well-being. Wealth should serve humanity, and not the other way around.

— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) March 12, 2018

Frederick Douglass: Slavery Money Making

Frederick Douglass Money Quote saying the American slave-trade in the 1850’s was continued by some entirely due to profit motive and regardless of human suffering it caused. Frederick Douglass said:
 

 

“Money is the measure of morality, and the success or failure of slavery, as a money-making system, determines with many whether the thing is virtuous, or villainous, and whether it should be maintained or abolished” — Frederick Douglass

criticizing the view that the morality of slavery was determined primarily by whether it was financially profitable or “a money-making system.” By pointing out that many people judged slavery based on “whether the thing is virtuous, or villainous” depending on its economic success or failure, Douglass appears to be arguing that the humanity and basic rights of enslaved people were being ignored or treated as secondary to financial interests.

His quote suggests that the abolitionist cause needed to make the moral argument that slavery was an evil institution regardless of any money it produced, and that people’s worth should not be measured merely by their economic value.

Birthday: c. February 1817 – Death: February 20, 1895