--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I only know that a wise man once said…" description: "\"“I only know that a wise man once said three hundred years ago that money is like muck; it doesn’t do any good unless you spread it around.”\" — Lilian ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_money_i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-th_2765168.png" --- # I only know that a wise man once said three hundred years… ![“I only know that a wise man once said three hundred years ago that money is like muck; it doesn’t do any good unless you spread it around.” quote by Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_money_i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-th_2765168.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_money_i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-th_2765168.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_money_i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-th_2765168.png) > ““I only know that a wise man once said three hundred years ago that money is like muck; it doesn’t do any good unless you spread it around.”” [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Money is like muck; it only benefits others when shared. **In simple terms:** Money helps others only when shared. Key Takeaway Share wealth generously. Themes generosity wealth social responsibility Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - charitable giving - community projects - business profit sharing Key Concepts economics of sharing philanthropy wealth distribution Questions to Reflect On - How can you share without sacrificing needs? - What impact does sharing have on community? A Different Perspective Sharing may reduce personal security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Muck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muck/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [Money is like muck, not good unless spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/money-is-like-muck-not-good-unless-spread/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/money-is-like-muck-not-good-except-it-be-spread/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I must admit I like to muck around a bit; I always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-wisdom/i-must-admit-i-like-to-muck-around-a-bit-i-always-have/) [Norman Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-wisdom/) > [It's just like Eddie Sharkey told me along time ago...GET THE MONEY!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rice/it-s-just-like-eddie-sharkey-told-me-along-time-ago-get-the-money/) Ricky Rice > [I'd have stopped writing years ago if it were for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-d-have-stopped-writing-years-ago-if-it-were-for-the-money/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Stocks are at an all-time high today. I don't have any money in the stock market. I don't have the stomach for the ups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/stocks-are-at-an-all-time-high-today-i-don-t-have-any-money-in-the/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I'm on the daft scale. I mean, I am a typical Virgo in some ways. I am driven. I like to be prepared. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suranne-jones/i-m-on-the-daft-scale-i-mean-i-am-a-typical-virgo-in-some-ways-i-am/) [Suranne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suranne-jones/) > [Having been through the muck and mire, I've had my own brush with bad choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/having-been-through-the-muck-and-mire-i-ve-had-my-own-brush-with-bad/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Every good newspaper is muckraking to some degree. It's part of our job. Where there's muck, we ought to rake it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-good-newspaper-is-muckraking-to-some-degree-it-s-part-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men with the muckrake are often indispensable to the well-being of society, but only if they know when to stop raking the muck, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/men-with-the-muckrake-are-often-indispensable-to-the-well-being-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/on-no-account-brood-over-your-wrongdoing-rolling-in-the-muck-is-not/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“That was inedible muck, and there wasn't enough of it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-stanshall/that-was-inedible-muck-and-there-wasn-t-enough-of-it/) [Vivian Stanshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-stanshall/) > [“This muck heaves and palpitates. It is multi-directional and has a mayor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/this-muck-heaves-and-palpitates-it-is-multi-directional-and-has-a/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [“One must be a lotus to emerge from mucky waters clean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/one-must-be-a-lotus-to-emerge-from-mucky-waters-clean/) Will Advise > [You can rake the muck this way, rake the muck that way-- it will always be muck. Have I sinned or have I not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/you-can-rake-the-muck-this-way-rake-the-muck-that-way-it-will-always/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) ## More by Lilian Jackson Braun > [“that's what i mean about cats. they're always trying to make fools of us humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/that-s-what-i-mean-about-cats-they-re-always-trying-to-make-fools-of/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“No one had ever accused Koko of being naughty. Perverse, perhaps, or arrogant, or despotic. But naughtiness was beneath his dignity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/no-one-had-ever-accused-koko-of-being-naughty-perverse-perhaps-or/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [Home is where i hang my toothbrush and where the cats have their commode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/home-is-where-i-hang-my-toothbrush-and-where-the-cats-have-their/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Amanda raised her glass in a toast. “Here’s a wet one to Saint Iris of the Hummocks!” Then she winced and scowled at Riker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/amanda-raised-her-glass-in-a-toast-here-s-a-wet-one-to-saint-iris-of/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“A female feline named Katta Is getting fatta and fatta But she's pretty and purry And funny and furry So what does an ounce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/a-female-feline-named-katta-is-getting-fatta-and-fatta-but-she-s/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/cats-never-strike-a-pose-that-isn-t-photogenic/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“The cranks are always with us,” Qwilleran said, “hiding behind trees, peeking around corners, going about in disguise, and plotting their selfish little schemes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/the-cranks-are-always-with-us-qwilleran-said-hiding-behind-trees/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Enchanté!” said Qwilleran, bending low over her hand in a courtly gesture. Then he drew from his pocket a perfect Bosc pear with bronze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/enchant-said-qwilleran-bending-low-over-her-hand-in-a-courtly-gesture/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [Small birds throw seeds out of the feeder; large birds pick them up off the ground, but the squirrels try to muscle in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/small-birds-throw-seeds-out-of-the-feeder-large-birds-pick-them-up/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Then one day he sent her a single long-stemmed rose with the famous Hfez of Shrz poem that you probably know.” She recited the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/then-one-day-he-sent-her-a-single-long-stemmed-rose-with-the-famous/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“He agreed with Francis Bacon: Old friends to trust, old wood to burn, old authors to read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/he-agreed-with-francis-bacon-old-friends-to-trust-old-wood-to-burn/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“How do you describe your style?” he asked as they drove back to the rocky beach. “Descriptive but not realistic. Makes viewers use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/how-do-you-describe-your-style-he-asked-as-they-drove-back-to-the/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Qwilleran’s Siamese cat was a celebrity at the Press Club. Koko’s portrait hung in the lobby along with Pulitzer Prize winners, and he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/qwilleran-s-siamese-cat-was-a-celebrity-at-the-press-club-koko-s/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [Cats have a contempt of speech. Why should they talk when they can communicate without words?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/cats-have-a-contempt-of-speech-why-should-they-talk-when-they-can/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“In mid-morning, Qwilleran set out from the barn carrying a baker’s box tied with red plaid ribbon. He said goodbye to the cats, told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/in-mid-morning-qwilleran-set-out-from-the-barn-carrying-a-baker-s-box/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) [Explore all 60 Lilian Jackson Braun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) ## More Money quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/) Cathy > [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/) [Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is the fellow who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-french-johnson/the-man-who-works-for-the-gold-in-the-job-rather-than-for-the-money/) Joseph French Johnson [Browse all 45,172 Money quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I only know that a wise man once said three hundred years ago that money is like muck; it doesn’t do any good unless you spread it around.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lilian Jackson Braun" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-three-hundred-years-ago-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Money" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-three-hundred-years-ago-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_money_i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-th_2765168.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_money_i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-th_2765168.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_money_i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-th_2765168.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I only know that a wise man once said three hundred years ago that money is like muck; it doesn’t do any…” — Lilian Jackson Braun", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lilian Jackson Braun", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I only know that a wise...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-three-hundred-years-ago-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/i-only-know-that-a-wise-man-once-said-three-hundred-years-ago-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```