--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rich people should consider that they are…" description: "\"Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they possess, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good than merely in hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/joseph-hall-7416_benevolence_rich-people-should-consider-that-they-ar_2065535.png" --- # Rich people should consider that they are only trustees… ![“Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they possess, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good than merely in having it. They should not reserve their benevolence for purposes after they are dead, for those who give not of their property till they die show…” quote by Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/joseph-hall-7416_benevolence_rich-people-should-consider-that-they-ar_2065535.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/joseph-hall-7416_benevolence_rich-people-should-consider-that-they-ar_2065535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/joseph-hall-7416_benevolence_rich-people-should-consider-that-they-ar_2065535.png) > “Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they possess, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good than merely in having it. They should not reserve their benevolence for purposes after they are dead, for those who give not of their property till they die show that they would not then if they could keep it any longer.” [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth is a responsibility; the rich should use it for good now, not just after death. **In simple terms:** Rich should act generously now. Key Takeaway Use wealth for present good. Themes ethics wealth responsibility Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - philanthropy - estate planning - social entrepreneurship - community development Key Concepts stewardship altruism Questions to Reflect On - What immediate actions can you take with your resources? - How does delayed generosity affect impact? A Different Perspective People may prioritize self-interest over communal benefit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) [Benevolence Purposes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence-purposes-3962708/) [Consider Trustees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-trustees-3962707/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possess Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-wealth-1378415/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserves/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Trustees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trustees/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they posses, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/rich-people-should-consider-that-they-are-only-trustees-for-what-they-2/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation, and honors as possible, while you do not care for nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/are-you-not-ashamed-of-your-eagerness-to-possess-as-much-wealth/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“People who are free to choose will choose the best use for whatever it is they possess. Wealth and prosperity begin with the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/people-who-are-free-to-choose-will-choose-the-best-use-for-whatever/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [He does not possess wealth; it possesses him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-does-not-possess-wealth-it-possesses-him/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [What a rare gift, by the by, is that of manners! how difficult to define, how much more difficult to impart! Better for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/what-a-rare-gift-by-the-by-is-that-of-manners-how-difficult-to-define/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The wealthy seldom possess wealth: oftener they are possessed by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-panin/the-wealthy-seldom-possess-wealth-oftener-they-are-possessed-by-it/) [Ivan Panin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-panin/) > [The few men who possess the wealth of the material things of the earth at the present time are not truly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-franklin-rutherford/the-few-men-who-possess-the-wealth-of-the-material-things-of-the/) [Joseph Franklin Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-franklin-rutherford/) > [The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized-upon-mankind-that-their/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [“You may not possess a body that everyone want to admire. You may not possess wealth that everyone want to have. However you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-d-gonsalves/you-may-not-possess-a-body-that-everyone-want-to-admire-you-may-not/) [Gloria D. Gonsalves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-d-gonsalves/) > [If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/if-money-be-not-thy-servant-it-will-be-thy-master-the-covetous-man/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [It requires more than a day's devotion to know and to possess the wealth of a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-requires-more-than-a-day-s-devotion-to-know-and-to-possess-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/not-to-share-our-own-wealth-with-the-poor-is-theft-from-the-poor-and/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Try to be of some use to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/try-to-be-of-some-use-to-others/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-served-for-42-years-on-the-board-of-trustees-of-the-largest/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Each generation of humanity takes the earth as trustees... We ought to bequeath to posterity as many forests and orchards as we have exhausted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-sterling-morton/each-generation-of-humanity-takes-the-earth-as-trustees-we-ought-to/) [Julius Sterling Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-sterling-morton/) ## More by Joseph Hall > [A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-reputation-once-broken-may-possibly-be-repaired-but-the-world-will/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/and-if-i-were-so-low-that-i-accounted-myself-the-worst-of-all-yet/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The life of doctrine is in application.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-life-of-doctrine-is-in-application/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Words are as they are taken, and things are as they are used. There are even cursed blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/words-are-as-they-are-taken-and-things-are-as-they-are-used-there-are/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/we-must-first-pray-that-god-would-make-us-wise-before-we-can-wish-he/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I account this body nothing but a close prison to my soul; and the earth a larger prison to my body. I may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-account-this-body-nothing-but-a-close-prison-to-my-soul-and-the/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Satan would seem to be mannerly and reasonable; making as if he would be content with one-half of the heart, whereas God challengeth all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/satan-would-seem-to-be-mannerly-and-reasonable-making-as-if-he-would/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [It is not the bee's touching on the flowers that gathers the honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/it-is-not-the-bee-s-touching-on-the-flowers-that-gathers-the-honey/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-have-seldom-seen-much-ostentation-and-much-learning-met-together/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Mark in what order: first, our calling; then, our election; not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/mark-in-what-order-first-our-calling-then-our-election-not-beginning/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Fools measure actions, after they are done, by the event; wise men beforehand, by the rules of reason and right. The former look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/fools-measure-actions-after-they-are-done-by-the-event-wise-men/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/earthly-greatness-is-a-nice-thing-and-requires-so-much-chariness-in/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-good-man-is-kinder-to-his-enemy-than-bad-men-are-to-their-friends/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The ear and the eye are the mind's receivers; but the tongue is only busy in expending the treasures received. It, therefore, the revenues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-ear-and-the-eye-are-the-mind-s-receivers-but-the-tongue-is-only/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [What fools are we, to be besotted with the love of our own trouble, and to hate our liberty and rest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/what-fools-are-we-to-be-besotted-with-the-love-of-our-own-trouble-and/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) [Explore all 91 Joseph Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) ## More Benevolence quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) [Emmanuel des Essarts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-des-essarts/) > [“Now general benevolence was one of the leading features of the Pickwickian theory, and no one was more remarkable for the zealous manner in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/now-general-benevolence-was-one-of-the-leading-features-of-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The individualism of current economic theory is manifest in the purely self-interested behaviour it generally assumes. It has no real place for fairness, malevolence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-e-daly/the-individualism-of-current-economic-theory-is-manifest-in-the/) [Herman E. Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-e-daly/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [When you have lived as long as I have, the div replied, you find that cruelty and benevolence are but shades of the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/when-you-have-lived-as-long-as-i-have-the-div-replied-you-find-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Generosity during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds from genuine liberality, and benevolence; the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/generosity-during-life-is-a-very-different-thing-from-generosity-in/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [There is in St. Paul's definite, soul-stirring assertion of the wrath of God and the reality of the judgment at hand, a truth more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-allen/there-is-in-st-paul-s-definite-soul-stirring-assertion-of-the-wrath/) [Roland Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-allen/) > [Men resemble the gods in nothing so much as in doing good to their fellow creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/men-resemble-the-gods-in-nothing-so-much-as-in-doing-good-to-their/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/general-benevolence-but-not-general-friendship-made-a-man-what-he/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) [Browse all 371 Benevolence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they possess, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good than merely in having it. 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