---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know not whether there exists such a…"
description: "\"I know not whether there exists such a thing as a coin stamped with a pair of pinions; but I wish this were the device which monarchs put upon their do..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/gotthold-ephraim-lessing-9335_coins_i-know-not-whether-there-exists-such-a-t_1685771.jpg"
---

#  I know not whether there exists such a thing as a coin…

![“I know not whether there exists such a thing as a coin stamped with a pair of pinions; but I wish this were the device which monarchs put upon their dollars and ducats, to show that riches make to themselves wings, and fly away.” quote by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/gotthold-ephraim-lessing-9335_coins_i-know-not-whether-there-exists-such-a-t_1685771.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/gotthold-ephraim-lessing-9335_coins_i-know-not-whether-there-exists-such-a-t_1685771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/gotthold-ephraim-lessing-9335_coins_i-know-not-whether-there-exists-such-a-t_1685771.jpg)

> “I know not whether there exists such a thing as a coin stamped with a pair of pinions; but I wish this were the device which monarchs put upon their dollars and ducats, to show that riches make to themselves wings, and fly away.”

[Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Wealth often disappears quickly, like wings that let money fly away.

**In simple terms:** Riches can vanish fast.

Key Takeaway

Beware of fleeting wealth.

Themes

wealth impermanence greed

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

philosophical warning

When to use this quote

- personal finance
- political policy
- economic planning

Key Concepts

economics philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you protect assets from erosion?
- What truly gives lasting security?

A Different Perspective

Money can be lost despite safeguards.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Coin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coin/) [Coin Stamped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coin-stamped-1002711/) [Coins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coins/) [Devices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devices/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Dollars Ducats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars-ducats-1002714/) [Fly away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fly-away/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Monarchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monarchs/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Pairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pairs/) [Pinions Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pinions-wish-1002712/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Thing Coin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-coin-1002713/) [Wings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wings/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

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