Ayn Rand: Worthless Heir

Meaning of Ayn Rand Money Quote: saying was it the money that corrupted or the heir or heir that corrupts the money. Ayn Rand said:
 

 

“If an heir is equal to his money, it serves him; if not, it destroys him. But you look on and you cry that money corrupted him. Did it? Or did he corrupt his money? Do not envy a worthless heir” — Ayn Rand

This quote highlights the idea that money can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can serve as a tool for good, providing resources and opportunities for the betterment of one’s life. On the other hand, it can also be a source of corruption and destruction if not handled responsibly.

Ayn Rand’s statement suggests that it is not the money itself that corrupts, but rather the individual’s relationship with it. If an heir is “equal to his money,” meaning they have a healthy and responsible relationship with it, then it can serve them well. However, if the heir is not “equal to his money,” meaning they are not capable of managing it wisely, then it can lead to corruption and destruction.

The quote also cautions against envying a worthless heir, implying that one should not envy those who have inherited wealth without also possessing the qualities necessary to handle it responsibly.

Overall, the quote emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and character in the face of wealth and inheritance, and serves as a reminder that money can be a powerful tool for good or ill, depending on how it is used.

Birthday: February 2, 1905 – Death: March 6, 1982

Reggie Jackson: Paid Will To Win

Reggie Jackson Money Quote saying even the greatest players must be paid for their desire to win the game. Reggie Jackson said:
 

 

“The will to win is worthless if you don’t get paid for it” — Reggie Jackson

In this quote, baseball legend Reggie Jackson is acknowledging the practical realities of professional sports as a business. While competitive drive and determination to succeed are important traits, Jackson suggests they are meaningless without proper financial compensation for one’s efforts and achievements at the highest levels of play.

He implies that for elite athletes, being paid market value commensurate with their skills, performances and revenue generation is just as crucial as intrinsic motivation. Overall, the quote conveys Jackson’s perspective that in professional leagues, monetary rewards are a valid and necessary recognition of top athletes’ talents, not just accolades or statistics alone.

Eli Whitney: Worthless Invention

Eli Whitney Money Quote saying after exhausting his resources defending the expired patent on his cotton gin invention, that it wasn’t worth it because the machine was too valuable. Eli Whitney said:
 

 

“An invention can be so valuable as to be worthless to the inventor” — Eli Whitney

In this quote, Eli Whitney is making the point that an invention can sometimes be so groundbreaking or innovative that the inventor lacks the means or ability to fully realize its commercial potential themselves.

Whitney seems to be suggesting that an invention may be of immense worth and value to society or future businesses, but the original inventor may not be positioned to benefit financially from it to the degree others could.

The best interpretation is that Whitney is acknowledging how an invention’s true worth or usefulness may far exceed what the inventor alone can extract from it, since others are better equipped to mass produce and market the invention on a larger scale for widespread adoption.

Birthday: December 8, 1765 – January 8, 1825

Kora-Lea Vidal: No Happiness Savings

Kora-Lea Vidal Money Quote saying that storing up reserves of cash can be all-consuming, but without saving good happiness and enjoyed experiences that money is useless. Kora-Lea Vidal said:

You may have a lot of money tied up in your savings but if you neglected to save up happiness then your money is worthless
— Kora-Lea Vidal

In this quote, Kora-Lea Vidal is emphasizing that financial wealth alone does not guarantee a life of value or meaning if one has not also “saved up happiness” through nurturing personal well-being and strong relationships. Money can provide security and opportunities, but it is ultimately intangible aspects like joy, purpose, health and human connections that enrich our lives.

The best interpretation is that Vidal is cautioning against an excessive focus on accumulating savings and material assets at the cost of prioritizing inner wellness and social support systems. True prosperity depends on achieving a balanced and fulfilling life, not wealth in isolation. Savings may preserve choice, but neglected happiness leaves one with resources that cannot fulfill deeper human needs for meaning and fulfillment.

Bob Dylan: Life Worth It’s Weight in Gold

Bob Dylan Money Quote saying we value life differently based on feelings of the moment. Bob Dylan said:

“You can’t take it with you and you know that it’s too worthless to be sold They tell you, “Time is money,” as if your life was worth its weight in gold” — Bob Dylan

Song lyrics from Bob Dylan. The quote is from the song “Born in Time” which was released in 1983 on the album “Infidels”.

The song “Born in Time” is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making the most of the time we have. The lyrics suggest that our lives are precious and should not be treated as commodities to be bought and sold. The line “You can’t take it with you” is a reminder that we cannot take our wealth or possessions with us when we die, and that our time on this earth is limited.

The line “They tell you, ‘Time is money,’ as if your life was worth its weight in gold” is a commentary on the way that society often values material wealth and productivity over the value of human life. The phrase “time is money” is a common expression that suggests that time is a limited resource that should be used efficiently and productively, but Dylan is suggesting that this way of thinking devalues the importance of human life and experience.

“Born in Time” is a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to cherish the time they have and to live their lives with intention and purpose

Milton Friedman: Perfectly Worthless Paper

Milton Friedman Money Quotation saying The Federal Reserve puts ink to paper in a valueless way, as only government could. Milton Friedman said:
 

 

“Only government can take perfectly good paper, cover it with perfectly good ink and make the combination worthless” — Milton Friedman

Milton Friedman is criticizing how governments can devalue or destroy the value of money through certain economic policies. By “perfectly good paper” and “perfectly good ink”, he is referring to currency like bills.

Friedman is suggesting that even though the physical materials used to make money have value on their own, governments have the unique power to render that money worthless simply through decisions around monetary policy, money supply, or other economic actions.

His point is that only a governing body, not private individuals or companies, can essentially wipe out the purchasing power and usefulness of a currency that physically appears sound, through policies that undermine its value and status as legal tender.

Birthday: July 31, 1912 Death: November 16, 2006

Tim Kreider on Worthless Vocations

Tim Kreider Money Quotation saying in a New York Times Editorial that failure to pay for online work, artists are being insulted and devalued. Tim Kreider said:
 

 

“It isn’t right for people to tell us, over and over, that our vocation is worthless” — Tim Kreider

• The author argues that many websites and publications ask writers and artists to create content for free, without compensation
• He calls this practice of unpaid labor “contemptuous” and says it devalues creative work
• The author recounts his own experiences being asked to write for free over many years, despite the time and effort required
• He acknowledges the difficult economy but says unpaid work shouldn’t be considered normal or socially acceptable
• The author urges younger artists not to give away their work for free, as a matter of principle and to maintain the value of creative professions
• He provides a template response for declining unpaid work invitations politely but firmly

This quote is criticizing the practice of publications and websites repeatedly asking artists and writers to create work for no pay. By only offering “exposure” instead of compensation, it sends the message that creative work has no monetary value or worth.

The author argues this is unfair and discourages treating artistic vocations as something that can and should be done unpaid, as a hobby rather than a job.

The quote expresses that artists should not have to constantly hear from potential employers that their chosen career path is essentially worthless as a means of earning a living.