Why I'll never be rich

[chris_w]

Being in a somber mood (see previous post), I was thinking about the future and I came to an interesting insight about myself. I realized that I will probably be middle-class for the rest of my life -- that I will almost certainly never be rich. That, in fact, I don't actually want to be rich.

Not that I'd turn down riches if they were handed to

Comments

[nsingman]

I don't think there is anything evil about the love of money, per se. Money is simply a store of value that enriches our lives by enabling us to simplify the barter process. Nor is there anything evil about a love for one's own property or wealth, honestly acquired. What makes a greedy person evil is greed for what someone else has. Those who respect the property rights of others and themselves harm no one with their "greed."

[chris_w]

Good point. I agree that the love of money is not evil, actually, but I think it's fair to say that it's the root of evil, meaning that when you dig down into the causes of any particular evil, you'll probably find love of money -- excessive love of money -- at the bottom of it all. So it's not evil per se, only when allowed to get out of hand.

In fact, I think you could properly define greed as "excessive love of money", which means it wouldn't apply to anyone who simply has a (non-excessive) love for their own property or wealth, honestly acquired. That's not greed, in my book anyway.