The Gospel of Wealth

Man does not live by bread alone. I have known millionaires starving for lack of the nutriment which alone can sustain all that is human in man, and I know workmen, and many so-called poor men, who revel in luxuries beyond the power of those millionaires to reach. It is the mind that makes the body rich. There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else. Money can only be the useful drudge of things immeasurably higher than itself. Exalted beyond this, as it sometimes is, it remains Caliban still and still plays the beast. My aspirations take a higher flight. Mine be it to have contributed to the enlightenment and the joys of the mind, to the things of the spirit, to all that tends to bring into the lives of the toilers of Pittsburgh sweetness and light. I hold this the noblest possible use of wealth.

Andrew Carnegie, The Gospel of Wealth,1889

Was going through some very interesting biographies and came across this

You know it’s one thing to die rich and it’s another thing to actually leave a legacy that outlives you…an excerpt from his book/journal or whatever you call it got me thinking…

Comments

Jennifer A. said…
Deep...

Pretty much, money is nothing without a legacy.
Buki said…
"Money can only be the useful drudge of things immeasurably higher than itself...it remains Caliban still and still plays the beast."
I especially like the above statement, it is really deep... and to think that it is touching lives like ours 119 years later, that is a legacy...Andrew Carnegie really meant these words "My aspirations take a higher flight."

...I seriously pray my aspirations will also take a higher flight and touch lives 5 centuries after I have spent this earth.
Andrew Carnagie is da bomb mehn. dez one of his book 'how to ... kini kini' lovely book.
aloted said…
my hubby, before we got married said one of the things he wants to do in life is to leave a legacy for his children, grandchildren and greatgrand children (generation behind him)

My respect for him grew exponentially.

I also pray to leave a legacy in this world.
SOLOMONSYDELLE said…
...by bread alone...

That is always a good reminder. Thank you for sharing this. How nah?
Dee said…
"it is the mind that makes the body rich" That is very true!

Thanks for sharing this.
NoLimit said…
@dee! true...very true...need to keep telling me that...cos sometimes...I totally deviate from that thinking...God help moi!

@Solomonsydelle: I dey oo..just dey maintain to sustain(lol been a while since I used that!)...thanks for stopping by...

@Aloted: may your husband's desire come true(amen)...
"My respect for him grew exponentially."...may that respect never diminish...

@FFF: Men you dey my flow...he really is the shizzy!
I'm on a roll with such authors right now i.e...people that didn't/don't just talk the talk but also walk/work the walk/work!!!

@Buki...Your words captured it brilliantly!!!It's amazing what one man's focused and unselfish aspiration can achieve/attain.

@Jaycee...Gehl you're as deep as they come...

To all...You guys rock...
rethots said…
...and why should i die rich when a legacy i can leave? Infact, i die not as the legacy is already 'outliving' me.
aloted said…
chick..did u see my email??

check your junk o ;-)
Aphrodite said…
The worst poverty is the one of the mind.

Money shouldnt be acquired for the sake of money alone but of how it can be used to impact positively, the life of the owner and those around him.
NoLimit said…
@aphrodite...true talk o...but you know what the mentality of some people is like: Get all you can...Can all you get...then sit on it!!!
@rethot: you berra not "die not"!!!well your best bet is to die rich and still a legacy!
NoLimit said…
@ aloted...gehl I replied yday o...!!!
Buttercup said…
Very true...may we all leave a legacy worth being proud of n honored...

Popular posts from this blog

You're not a tree... make that move!

Re: In The Name of All Things Men.

Judging A Book By It's Cover