---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The goose that lays golden eggs has been…"
description: "\"The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden eggs lai..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/louis-d-brandeis-5049_associates_the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been_87391.jpg"
---

#  The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most…

![“The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden eggs laid by somebody else's goose. The investment bankers and their associates now enjoy that privilege.” quote by Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/louis-d-brandeis-5049_associates_the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been_87391.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/louis-d-brandeis-5049_associates_the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been_87391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/louis-d-brandeis-5049_associates_the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been_87391.jpg)

> “The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden eggs laid by somebody else's goose. The investment bankers and their associates now enjoy that privilege.”

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

## About This Quote

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

Exploiting others' assets can be more lucrative than owning valuable resources yourself.

**In simple terms:** Profit from others' work

Key Takeaway

Leverage yields higher returns

Themes

exploitation wealth financial strategy ethics power dynamics

Mood

cynical critical

Type

aphor social commentary

When to use this quote

- venture capital
- real estate speculation
- intellectual property licensing
- stock market trading

Key Concepts

resource allocation privilege investment banking moral hazard

Practical Applications

- risk assessment
- portfolio diversification

Questions to Reflect On

- Is it ethical to profit from others' labor?
- How does this behavior affect long‑term sustainability?

A Different Perspective

Such exploitation can erode trust and create systemic inequality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bankers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankers/) [Golden eggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golden-eggs/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Valuable possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable-possessions/)

## Related quotes

> [Our mind is the most valuable possession that we have. The quality of our lives is, and will be, a reflection of how well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/our-mind-is-the-most-valuable-possession-that-we-have-the-quality-of/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [Most writers regard the truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are economical in its use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/most-writers-regard-the-truth-as-their-most-valuable-possession-and/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/a-wise-man-ought-to-realize-that-health-is-his-most-valuable/)

[Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/)

> [The possession of a true testimony is the most valuable possession that one could have. It gives one knowledge, the hope and assurance that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/the-possession-of-a-true-testimony-is-the-most-valuable-possession/)

[Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/)

> [The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodorus-gaza/the-gift-which-i-am-sending-you-is-called-a-dog-and-is-in-fact-the/)

Theodorus Gaza

> [Every day is lost in which we do not learn something useful. Man has no nobler or more valuable possession than time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/every-day-is-lost-in-which-we-do-not-learn-something-useful-man-has/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Why is the heart that is broken considered so much more valuable than the one or the two who must cause the pain lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/why-is-the-heart-that-is-broken-considered-so-much-more-valuable-than-2/)

[Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/)

> [Among the numerous luxuries of the table...coffee may be considered as one of the most valuable. It excites cheerfulness without intoxication; and the pleasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/among-the-numerous-luxuries-of-the-table-coffee-may-be-considered-as/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Bitcoin, in the short or even long term, may turn out be a good investment in the same way that anything that is rare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/bitcoin-in-the-short-or-even-long-term-may-turn-out-be-a-good/)

[Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/)

> [It's interesting to all of a sudden be considered valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/it-s-interesting-to-all-of-a-sudden-be-considered-valuable/)

[SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/)

> [What my work is about is, 'Can something that is not an inanimate object be considered valuable?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tino-sehgal/what-my-work-is-about-is-can-something-that-is-not-an-inanimate/)

[Tino Sehgal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tino-sehgal/)

> [“Why is the heart that is broken considered so much more valuable than the one or the two who must cause the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/why-is-the-heart-that-is-broken-considered-so-much-more-valuable-than/)

[Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/)

> [“When everything considered valuable in life is seen to be nothing in comparison to the glory of Christ, you learn rather well that Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/when-everything-considered-valuable-in-life-is-seen-to-be-nothing-in/)

[Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/)

> [Time is one of our most valuable possessions. Use it wisely. Remind yourselves often that things that matter most should not be left to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-leslie-stone/time-is-one-of-our-most-valuable-possessions-use-it-wisely-remind/)

O. Leslie Stone

> [True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/true-generosity-is-an-offering-given-freely-and-out-of-pure-love-no/)

[Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/)

## More by Louis D. Brandeis

> [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-cannot-alone-justify-suppression-of-free/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [We gain nothing by trading the tyranny of capital for the tyranny of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/we-gain-nothing-by-trading-the-tyranny-of-capital-for-the-tyranny-of/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/experience-should-teach-us-to-be-most-on-our-guard-to-protect-liberty/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill it teaches the whole people by example. Crime is contagious. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/our-government-is-the-potent-the-omnipresent-teacher-for-good-or-for/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [What are the American ideals? They are the development of the individual for his own and the common good; the development of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-are-the-american-ideals-they-are-the-development-of-the/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/most-of-the-things-worth-doing-in-the-world-had-been-declared/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-i-have-desired-to-do-is-to-make-the-people-of-boston-realize/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/if-we-desire-respect-for-the-law-we-must-first-make-the-law/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-alone-cannot-justify-oppression-of-free-speech/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [I abhor averages. I like the individual case. A man may have six meals one day and none the next, making an average of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/i-abhor-averages-i-like-the-individual-case-a-man-may-have-six-meals/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Organisation can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/organisation-can-never-be-a-substitute-for-initiative-and-for/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism. Multiple loyalties are objectionable only if they are inconsistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/let-no-american-imagine-that-zionism-is-inconsistent-with-patriotism/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [“The protection guaranteed by the Amendments is much broader in scope. The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-protection-guaranteed-by-the-amendments-is-much-broader-in-scope/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [There is a spark of idealism within every individual which can be fanned into flame and bring forth extraordinary results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/there-is-a-spark-of-idealism-within-every-individual-which-can-be/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

[Explore all 104 Louis D. Brandeis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

## More Associates quotes

> [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/)

[Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/)

> [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/)

[Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/)

> [Deliver me from all evildoers that talk nothing but sickness and failure. Grant me the companionship of men who think success and men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/deliver-me-from-all-evildoers-that-talk-nothing-but-sickness-and/)

[William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/)

> [I wanted to be a painter and an artist. And it's interesting that in some of my later musical works, I refer so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunther-schuller/i-wanted-to-be-a-painter-and-an-artist-and-it-s-interesting-that-in/)

[Gunther Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunther-schuller/)

> [I don't wear makeup. I don't wash my hair every day. It's not something that I associate with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/i-don-t-wear-makeup-i-don-t-wash-my-hair-every-day-it-s-not-something/)

[Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/)

> [You can't really come into a concept record objectively, because you immediately associate it with Yes, stuff from the 1970s that punk rock kicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-meloy/you-can-t-really-come-into-a-concept-record-objectively-because-you/)

[Colin Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-meloy/)

> [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [In social networks, you gain and bestow status through those you associate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/in-social-networks-you-gain-and-bestow-status-through-those-you/)

[Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/)

> [Men take on the nature and the habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/men-take-on-the-nature-and-the-habits-and-the-power-of-thought-of/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [No adversity is in kind or degree peculiar to us; but if we survey the conditions of other men (of our brethren everywhere, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-barrow/no-adversity-is-in-kind-or-degree-peculiar-to-us-but-if-we-survey-the/)

[Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-barrow/)

> [Tantra is not sexual yoga. When the word tantra is used in the West, very often people immediately associate it with some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/tantra-is-not-sexual-yoga-when-the-word-tantra-is-used-in-the-west/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [There are certainly times in history where power associates itself closely with fields that we would call the humanities, like rulers surrounding themselves with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/there-are-certainly-times-in-history-where-power-associates-itself/)

[Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/)

> [Surround yourself with people of like mind and different talents and temperaments with the purpose of serving the goals of every member of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/surround-yourself-with-people-of-like-mind-and-different-talents-and/)

[Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/)

> [You can predict a person?s future and divine his bank balance if you know two things: the books he reads, the people he associates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/you-can-predict-a-person-s-future-and-divine-his-bank-balance-if-you/)

[Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/)

Browse all 471 Associates quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden eggs laid by somebody else's goose. The investment bankers and their associates now enjoy that privilege.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Louis D. Brandeis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Associates"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/louis-d-brandeis-5049_associates_the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been_87391.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/louis-d-brandeis-5049_associates_the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been_87391.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/louis-d-brandeis-5049_associates_the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been_87391.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is…” — Louis D. Brandeis",
                "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": "Louis D. Brandeis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The goose that lays golden eggs...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
