Henry David Thoreau Money Quotations

Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.

That man is rich whose pleasures are the cheapest.

To have done anything just for money is to have been truly idle.

I think that there is nothing, not even crime, more opposed to poetry, to philosophy, ay, to life itself than this incessant business.

The ways by which you may get money almost without exception lead downward.

Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.

You may raise enough money to tunnel a mountain, but you cannot raise money enough to hire a man who is minding his own business.

Men will tell you sometimes that "money's hard." That shows it was not made to eat, I say.... Some of those who sank with the steamer the other day found out that money was heavy too.

If there were one who lived wholly without the use of money, the State itself would hesitate to demand it of him. But the rich man--not to make any invidious comparison--is always sold to the institution which makes him rich.... Thus his moral ground is taken from under his feet.

Those services which the community will most readily pay for, it is most disagreeable to render.

It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or fame would commonly buy them off from their present pursuit.

The truth is, there is money buried everywhere, and you have only to go to work to find it.

The opportunities of living are diminished in proportion as what are called the "means" are increased.

The community has no bribe that will tempt a wise man.

It is difficult to begin without borrowing, but perhaps it is the most generous course thus to permit your fellowmen to have an interest in your enterprise.

The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue.

Almost any man knows how to earn money, but not one in a million knows how to spend it.

The way by which you may get money almost without exception leads downward.

The only wealth is life.

Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.