William Hazlitt: Will-Making Art
on Wednesday, July 22, 2020William Hazlitt Money Quote saying there is persistence in belief that an inheritance is due which is less certain. William Hazlitt said:
“The art of will-making chiefly consists in baffling the importunity of expectation” — William Hazlitt
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In this quote, William Hazlitt seems to be commenting on the challenges involved in estate planning and distributing one’s wealth after death. By stating that the “art of will-making chiefly consists in baffling the importunity of expectation”, Hazlitt implies that crafting a will requires navigating the competing hopes and desires of potential heirs, who may each feel entitled to a larger share than what is allocated.
The quote conveys Hazlitt’s perspective that determining how to divide up and bequeath one’s assets in a way that satisfies legal requirements while also managing family dynamics and preventing resentment is a nuanced task.
Overall, Hazlitt appears to be acknowledging that will-making involves skillfully balancing different stakeholders’ “expectations” or perceived claims on an inheritance in an attempt to preempt disputes over the terms of the will after one’s passing.
Birthday: December 4, 1795 – Death: February 5, 1881