Acquisition Quote by Robert Green Ingersoll
“Millions of men give all their energies, as well as their very souls, for the acquisition of gold. And this will continue as long as society is ignorant enough and hypocritical enough to hold in high esteem the man of wealth without the slightest regard to the character of the man. . . . In judging of the rich, two things should be considered: How did they get it, and what are they doing with it? Was it honestly acquired? Is it being used for the benefit of mankind?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Lecture, late 19th century, USA
We value wealth over character, ignoring how it was earned and its purpose, leading to moral blindness.
In simple terms: Society prizes riches, not integrity.
Key Takeaway
Judge wealth by its source and use.
Themes
ethics
wealth
society
character
materialism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical.
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- personal finance
- philanthropy
- public policy
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess the true value of a person’s riches?
- What responsibilities accompany great wealth?
A Different Perspective
Wealth can be used for good, but often isn’t; moral judgment is complex.
![“No one suffers so much as he [the genius] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a certain sense, it is certainly only "by suffering" that a man knows. If compassion is not itself clear, abstractly conceivable or visibly symbolic knowledge, it is, at any rate…” quote by Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bec/otto-weininger-11319_acquisition_no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius_20597.jpg)
