Body Quote by Thomas Paine
“Paper money is like dram-drinking, it relieves for a moment by deceitful sensation, but gradually diminishes the natural heat, and leaves the body worse than it found it. Were not this the case, and could money be made of paper at pleasure, every sovereign in Europe would be as rich as he pleased. But the truth is, that it is a bubble and the attempt vanity. Nature has provided the proper materials for money: gold and silver, and any attempt of ours to rival her is ridiculous.”
About This Quote
Source Pamphlet: The Rights of Man, 1791
He argues paper money is a deceptive, temporary fix that erodes true value, whereas gold and silver are natural, stable wealth.
In simple terms: Paper money is a deceptive bubble; gold and silver are real wealth.
Key Takeaway
Prefer stable, tangible assets over fleeting paper.
Themes
economics
materialism
value
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
economic
When to use this quote
- investment decisions
- policy debates
- personal finance
Key Concepts
monetary theory
precious metals
inflation
financial stability
Questions to Reflect On
- Is a shift to precious metals feasible today?
- What are the risks of relying on paper currency?
A Different Perspective
Paper money still dominates modern economies.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
