--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium…" description: "\"Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness.\" — William Godwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/william-godwin-1978_hereditary_hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premiu_2402399.png" --- # Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness. ![“Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness.” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/william-godwin-1978_hereditary_hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premiu_2402399.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/william-godwin-1978_hereditary_hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premiu_2402399.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/william-godwin-1978_hereditary_hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premiu_2402399.png) > “Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness.” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It claims inherited wealth rewards inactivity rather than effort. **In simple terms:** Inherited wealth pays for idleness. Key Takeaway Question the value of unearned income. Themes wealth inheritance idleness Mood critical analytical Type sociopolitical ethical When to use this quote - policy debate - family dynamics - financial planning - education Key Concepts economic critique social justice Questions to Reflect On - Is wealth always a barrier to work? - How can inherited resources be used productively? A Different Perspective Not all inherited wealth leads to idleness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Among a democratic people, where there is no hereditary wealth, every man works to earn a living, or is born of parents who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/among-a-democratic-people-where-there-is-no-hereditary-wealth-every/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“All hat, no cattle...doing whatever it took to keep up the appearance of wealth, when in reality he is no better off than anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/all-hat-no-cattle-doing-whatever-it-took-to-keep-up-the-appearance-of/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [The steward, according to custom, had stopped all the clocks. This, in the language of Narouz, said "Your stay with us is so brief,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/the-steward-according-to-custom-had-stopped-all-the-clocks-this-in/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [If Julian had flattered himself that his personal connexion with the capital of the East would be productive of mutual satisfaction to the prince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-julian-had-flattered-himself-that-his-personal-connexion-with-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [An hereditary aristocracy... will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-hereditary-aristocracy-will-change-the-form-of-our-governments/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I call that mind free which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no man master, which does not content itself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/i-call-that-mind-free-which-jealously-guards-its-intellectual-rights/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [The child was diseased at birth, stricken with a hereditary ill that only the most vital men are able to shake off. I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/the-child-was-diseased-at-birth-stricken-with-a-hereditary-ill-that/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [ \[I\]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-n-great-britain-it-is-said-that-their-constitution-relies-on-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A lack of the historical sense is the hereditary fault of all philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-lack-of-the-historical-sense-is-the-hereditary-fault-of-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I believe I understand anti-Semitism which is a very complex movement. I see it as a Jew, but without hatred or fear. I recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/i-believe-i-understand-anti-semitism-which-is-a-very-complex-movement/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) > [“Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moons-of-saturn-and-take-high/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > ['Hereditary' is unabashedly a horror film. In a lot of ways, it's in dialogue with other horror films. But I do know that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/hereditary-is-unabashedly-a-horror-film-in-a-lot-of-ways-it-s-in/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [The major cause for American Negroes intellectual and social deficits is hereditary and racially genetic in origin and thus not remedial to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shockley/the-major-cause-for-american-negroes-intellectual-and-social-deficits/) [William Shockley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shockley/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## More by William Godwin > [I know nothing worth the living for but usefulness and the service of my fellow-creatures. The only object I pursue is to increase, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-nothing-worth-the-living-for-but-usefulness-and-the-service-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [He that loves reading has everything within his reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/he-that-loves-reading-has-everything-within-his-reach/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/there-must-be-room-for-the-imagination-to-exercise-its-powers-we-must/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [In infamy, it is wisely provided that he who stands highest in the ranks of society has the heaviest load to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/in-infamy-it-is-wisely-provided-that-he-who-stands-highest-in-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [No man knows the value of innocence and integrity but he who has lost them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/no-man-knows-the-value-of-innocence-and-integrity-but-he-who-has-lost/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/study-with-desire-is-real-activity-without-desire-it-is-but-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet \* Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice”:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Tenderness is the name for a lover's most exquisite sensation; protection is implied in his most generous and heart-thrilling impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/tenderness-is-the-name-for-a-lover-s-most-exquisite-sensation/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/whenever-government-assumes-to-deliver-us-from-the-trouble-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [During my academical life, and from this time forward, I was indefatigable in my search after truth. I read all the authors of greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/during-my-academical-life-and-from-this-time-forward-i-was/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Was ever a great discovery prosecuted or an important benefit conferred upon the human race by him who was incapable of standing and thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/was-ever-a-great-discovery-prosecuted-or-an-important-benefit/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-real-or-supposed-rights-of-man-are-of-two-kinds-active-and/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Soundness of understanding is connected with freedom of enquiry; consequently, opinion should, as far as public security will admit, be exempted from restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/soundness-of-understanding-is-connected-with-freedom-of-enquiry/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Power is not happiness. Security and peace are more to be desired than a man at which nations tremble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/power-is-not-happiness-security-and-peace-are-more-to-be-desired-than/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/strange-that-men-from-age-to-age-should-consent-to-hold-their-lives/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) [Explore all 193 William Godwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## More Hereditary quotes > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [The major cause for American Negroes intellectual and social deficits is hereditary and racially genetic in origin and thus not remedial to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shockley/the-major-cause-for-american-negroes-intellectual-and-social-deficits/) [William Shockley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shockley/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > ['Hereditary' is unabashedly a horror film. In a lot of ways, it's in dialogue with other horror films. But I do know that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/hereditary-is-unabashedly-a-horror-film-in-a-lot-of-ways-it-s-in/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [“Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moons-of-saturn-and-take-high/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I believe I understand anti-Semitism which is a very complex movement. I see it as a Jew, but without hatred or fear. I recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/i-believe-i-understand-anti-semitism-which-is-a-very-complex-movement/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) > [A lack of the historical sense is the hereditary fault of all philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-lack-of-the-historical-sense-is-the-hereditary-fault-of-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ \[I\]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-n-great-britain-it-is-said-that-their-constitution-relies-on-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The child was diseased at birth, stricken with a hereditary ill that only the most vital men are able to shake off. I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/the-child-was-diseased-at-birth-stricken-with-a-hereditary-ill-that/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [I call that mind free which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no man master, which does not content itself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/i-call-that-mind-free-which-jealously-guards-its-intellectual-rights/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [An hereditary aristocracy... will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-hereditary-aristocracy-will-change-the-form-of-our-governments/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If Julian had flattered himself that his personal connexion with the capital of the East would be productive of mutual satisfaction to the prince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-julian-had-flattered-himself-that-his-personal-connexion-with-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The steward, according to custom, had stopped all the clocks. This, in the language of Narouz, said "Your stay with us is so brief,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/the-steward-according-to-custom-had-stopped-all-the-clocks-this-in/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [The idea of hereditary legislators is as inconsistent as that of hereditary judges, or hereditary juries; and as absurd as an hereditary mathematician, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-idea-of-hereditary-legislators-is-as-inconsistent-as-that-of/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Hereditary honors are a noble and a splendid treasure to descendants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/hereditary-honors-are-a-noble-and-a-splendid-treasure-to-descendants/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) Browse all 128 Hereditary quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Godwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premium-paid-to-idleness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hereditary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premium-paid-to-idleness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/william-godwin-1978_hereditary_hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premiu_2402399.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/william-godwin-1978_hereditary_hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premiu_2402399.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/william-godwin-1978_hereditary_hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premiu_2402399.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness.” — William Godwin", "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": "William Godwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Hereditary wealth is in reality a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premium-paid-to-idleness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/hereditary-wealth-is-in-reality-a-premium-paid-to-idleness/#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 } } ] } ```