Seneca: Wasting Time Misers

Meaning of Seneca Money Quote: saying many waste their time, but are very miserly with belongings and cash. Seneca said:
 

 

“We’re tight-fisted with property and money, yet think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should all be the toughest misers” — Seneca

In this quote, Seneca is criticizing how people are often too careful and protective of their material possessions and wealth, yet too wasteful and careless with their time. He argues that while property and money can be replaced if lost, time is a resource that once spent cannot be regained.

Therefore, according to Seneca, we should all be very prudent and sparing with how we use our time each day, being mindful not to squander it on trivial or unproductive matters. The quote suggests we should adopt a “miserly” attitude when it comes to time in the sense of spending it only on worthwhile endeavors.

Overall, Seneca is advocating that people value their time more highly and guard against wasting it, as time is the one truly finite and non-renewable commodity we all possess.

Birthday: c. 4 BC – Death: AD 65

Harry Browne: Asset Forfeiture No

Meaning of Harry Browne Money Quote: saying when the government uses asset forfeiture, there are no rights available for the owner of seized goods or money. Harry Browne said:
 

 

“Asset forfeiture is a mockery of the Bill of Rights. There is no presumption of innocence, no need to prove you guilty (or even charge you with a crime), no right to a jury trial, no right to confront your accuser, no right to a court-appointed attorney (even if the government has just stolen all your money), and no right to compensation for the property that’s been taken” — Harry Browne

In this quote, Harry Browne is strongly criticizing the practice of asset forfeiture laws in the United States. He argues that asset forfeiture violates multiple constitutional rights outlined in the Bill of Rights.

Browne notes that with asset forfeiture, there is no need for a presumption of innocence, no requirement to prove guilt of a crime, no right to a jury trial, no ability to confront accusers, and no compensation for property seized. Essentially, Browne believes asset forfeiture allows the government to take people’s cash and assets without due process of law.

His view is that asset forfeiture amounts to a mockery of the basic legal protections citizens are meant to have under the Bill of Rights. Overall, the quote conveys Browne’s perspective that asset forfeiture is unconstitutional and denies individuals their fundamental civil liberties and safeguards in the legal system.

Thomas Piketty: Tax Net Worth

Thomas Piketty Money Quote saying Property tax could be used to progressively tax net worth in the U.S. Thomas Piketty said:
 

 

“The United States could transform its property tax system into a progressive tax on net worth without asking permission to the rest of the world” — Thomas Piketty

In this quote, Thomas Piketty is suggesting that the United States could reform its property tax system to make it more progressive by taxing wealthier individuals at higher rates based on their total net worth.

Currently, property taxes in the US are mostly local and tend to be regressive, impacting lower-income individuals more. Piketty argues the US does not need other countries’ approval to make its own tax system more equitable.

His view is that taxing accumulated wealth more for those with higher net worth could help address the growing concentration of wealth and income inequality in the US.

Lucretia Mott: Woman Property Tax

Lucretia Mott Money Quote saying women had payed taxes used to fund universities they could not attend at the time. Lucretia Mott said:
 

 

“Women’s property has been taxed, equally with that of men’s, to sustain colleges endowed by the states; but they have not been permitted to enter those high seminaries of learning” — Lucretia Mott

In this quote, Lucretia Mott is critiquing the lack of equal access to higher education for women in the United States during the 19th century. She notes that women’s property was taxed just like men’s property to fund state-sponsored colleges and universities.

However, Mott then points out that despite financially contributing to these institutions, women themselves “have not been permitted to enter those high seminaries of learning.”

In essence, Mott is arguing that it was unfair and unjust for women to help pay for colleges through taxes on their property, yet still be denied the right to enroll and study at those same schools.

The quote conveys Mott’s view that women deserved educational opportunities equal to those of men since they also financially supported the system.

Birthday: January 3, 1793 – Death: November 11, 1880

Roger Babson: Purchasing Power

Roger Babson Money Quote saying money may lose value but human qualities that matter most will always have value. Roger Babson said:
 

 

“Property may be destroyed and money may lose its purchasing power; but, character, health, knowledge and good judgment will always be in demand under all conditions” — Roger Babson

In this quote, Roger Babson is contrasting tangible assets that can fluctuate over time, like property and money, with intangible qualities that tend to retain their value regardless of external conditions. He notes that while property may be damaged and currency’s buying power may decline, characteristics like good character, health, knowledge and judgment will always be valuable “under all conditions.”

Babson appears to be arguing that developing strong character and investing in self-improvement through education and the cultivation of wisdom are sounder long-term investments than physical possessions or wealth, as they cannot easily be taken away and will serve people well through changing economic climates or life circumstances.

Overall, the quote conveys Babson’s perspective that inner qualities should take precedence over outer wealth as a means of building security and prosperity.

Birthday: July 6, 1875 – Death: March 5, 1967

Lawrence Lessig: Anarchy Freedom

Lawrence Lessig Money Quote saying that we must own our creative rights and the things we create should be compensated for freedom to exist. Lawrence Lessig said:
 

 

“A culture without property, or in which creators can’t get paid, is anarchy, not freedom” — Lawrence Lessig

Lawrence Lessig’s quote is saying a lack of compensation for creative works can lead to anarchy because it undermines the incentive for creators to produce new content.

Without financial rewards, creators may be less motivated to invest time and effort into producing high-quality content, leading to a lack of new content and a devaluation of the cultural commons.

This can ultimately lead to a breakdown of the social contract that underlies the creation and dissemination of cultural works, resulting in anarchy.

Thomas Jefferson: Unemployed Uncultivated

Thomas Jefferson Money Quote saying productive land and unproductive poor people should never exist in the same country. Thomas Jefferson said:
 

 

“Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right” — Thomas Jefferson

This quote suggests that Thomas Jefferson believed property laws should have natural limits in order to avoid violating people’s basic rights. He appears to be arguing that if a country has unemployed poor people and uncultivated land at the same time, it means property ownership has been defined too broadly, beyond what is justified by natural law.

Jefferson seems to be implying that in such a scenario, allowing some access to unused land by those without work would be in accordance with natural rights. The quote conveys Jefferson’s view that extreme inequality of land ownership could infringe on people’s natural right to access resources and property to provide for themselves.

Birthday: April 13, 1743 – Death: July 4, 1826

Alexis de Tocqueville: Equality of Property

Alexis de Tocqueville Money Quote saying U.S. citizens are strong believers in money over fairness. Sharing property equally is held in disdain. Alexis de Tocqueville said:
 

 

“I know of no other country where love of money has such a grip on men’s hearts or where stronger scorn is expressed for the theory of permanent equality of property” — Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville is referring to the American belief that equality of property outcomes should not be guaranteed or enforced permanently. He observed that most Americans did not support the idea that all citizens should have equal amounts of wealth and property over time.

Rather than emphasizing fairness in property distribution, Americans at the time placed a higher value on individual economic freedom and the ability to accumulate private property through one’s own efforts and abilities. Tocqueville saw Americans as strongly believing in the merits of a market-based system where property ownership was not kept permanently equal between all people.

Birthday: July 29, 1805 – Death: April 16, 1859