Tuesday, April 04, 2017

Bertrand Russell on Money

“It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.”  - - - Bertrand Russell

It is, indeed, sad to see sons and daughters of wealthy families growing up to be occupied with nothing in life  except to make more money believing that all values must be measured in terms of money or that money is the ultimate test of success in this world.

“This belief, is held in fact, if not in words, by multitudes of men and women, and yet it is not in harmony with human nature, since it ignores vital needs and the instinctive tendency towards some specific kind of growth. It makes men treat as unimportant those of their desires which run counter to the acquisition of money, and yet such desires are, as a rule, more important to well-being than any increase of income. It leads men to mutilate their own natures from a mistaken theory of what constitutes success, and to give admiration to enterprises which add nothing to human welfare. It promotes a dead uniformity of character and purpose, a diminution in the joy of life, and a stress and strain which leaves whole communities weary, discouraged, and disillusioned.” - - - Bertrand Russell

In the Philippines, to learn not how to love our country, but to learn to believe that success in life has more to do with getting or stealing or borrowing or cheating or marrying or fucking  for money - has been and still is what our sick system of education has been and still is mostly about.

For my part, I have no money; but I am happier and richer than most men who have lots
 of money. For one thing, my needs and wants in life have very little to do with money:
I would rather be busy searching for the truth than be busy searching for money! - Poch Suzara

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