Ancient Teachings on Earned vs. Inherited Wealth

“I see that you are indifferent about money, which is a characteristic rather of those who have inherited their fortunes than of those who have acquired them; the makers of fortunes have a second love of money as a creation of their own, resembling the affections of authors for their own poems, or of parents for their children, besides that natural love of it for the sake of use and profit which is common to them and all men. And hence, they are very bad company, for they can talk of nothing but the praises of wealth.” – Socrates, Plato’s Republic

Ouch. That hit close too home for me. I built my own savings rather than inheriting it. I see my savings as my own creation, and I probably talk about money more than many in my life would like.

I tend to like hearing the old proverb, “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations,” because it sets the builders of wealth ahead of those who inherit and squander wealth. But Socrates sees this very differently. He prefers those with inherited wealth because they’re willing to talk about things other than money.

I never thought of it in these terms before, but it seems likely that those who built their own wealth prefer the company of others who’ve done the same, and those who inherited money prefer the company of others who have inherited money.

Fortunately, I have a few hobbies not related to money.