Asking Quote by Henry Hazlitt
“There is a strange idea aboard, held by all monetary cranks, that credit is something a banker gives to a man. Credit, on the contrary, is something a man already has. He has it, perhaps, because he already has marketable assets of a greater cash value than the loan for which he is asking. Or he has it because his character and past record have earned it. He brings it into the bank with him. That is why the banker makes him the loan.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Nature of Credit", Henry Hazlitt, 1930
Credit is not created by banks; it reflects a person’s existing assets, reputation, and ability to repay, which banks simply formalize.
In simple terms: Credit comes from personal assets and trust, not bank generosity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize credit as a reflection of your own worth.
Themes
finance
economics
personal responsibility
banking
trust
Mood
analytical
practical
Type
educational
informative
When to use this quote
- business loans
- personal finance
- entrepreneurship
- investment decisions
- credit building
Key Concepts
capital theory
risk assessment
economic theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you understand the assets that back your credit?
- How does reputation affect borrowing power?
A Different Perspective
Credit can be limited by market conditions and borrower risk.
![“Every man's credit is proportioned to the money which he has in his chest. [Lat., Quantum quisque sua nummorum condit in area, Tantum habet et fidei.]” quote by Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/510/juvenal-918_areas_every-man-s-credit-is-proportioned-to-th_2619385.jpg)
