There is no intrinsic worth in money but what is alterable with the times, and whether a guinea goes for twenty pounds or for a shilling, it is the labor of the poor and not the high and low value that is set on gold or silver, which all the comforts of life must arise from.
Interpretation
Money's value is subjective and tied to labor, not its physical worth.
This quote highlights the idea that money itself does not possess inherent value; rather, its worth fluctuates with societal change and is ultimately derived from the labor that creates the wealth it represents. The comfort and richness of life stem not from the metal itself, like gold or silver, but from the hard work and effort of individuals, particularly those who are often overlooked in discussions about wealth and value.
In practice
In a discussion about the economic crisis, this quote can emphasize the importance of labor over monetary value.
Early in life, when I first saw waterlilies on the ripples of a lake, I didn't think they were flowers which grew from the water, but rather flowers which were mirrored from the shore into the lake. So many flowers grow in the silent waters of our souls, and they unfold their petals over the glaze of our consciousness: they grow from within us, but we think them reflections from the external world.
LeRoy says there's something you should know, not everybody has a place to go. And home is just a place to hang your head, and dream of things to do in Denver when you're dead.
Once upon a time men were possessed by devils. Now they are not less obsessed by ideas
Every idea, extended into infinity, becomes its own opposite.
Here's the thing. When we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it's all nonsense. There are no race relations. White people were crazy. Now they're not as crazy. To say that black people have made progress would be to say they deserve what happened to them before.
Morality which depends upon the helplessness of a man or woman has not much to recommend it. Morality is rooted in the purity of our hearts.
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