Some food for thought; just in time before the iPhone takes control of your senses.
Old wisdom says:
Money is the root of all evil.
George Bernard Shaw says:
Lack of money is the root of all evil.
St. Paul says:
The love of money is the root of all evil.
I say:
The want of easy money is the root of all evil.
There are two key words here: “want” and “easy” signifying greed and laziness, respectively. Money is just a medium that makes these undesirable qualities more visible - you could probably replace the word “money” with a lot of other things (love, sex, respect, power, oil, material possessions, etc.) and yet that statement would be valid.
The “want” or desire or love for money, in fact, can be a great motivational factor that sometimes makes people work harder (and/or more efficiently). When people are no longer in control of this desire, it takes the form of greed.
Again, greed alone is not much of a problem (a greedy man can only harm himself); however, evil takes roots when the greed joins forces with the tendency to take shortcuts.
Also, for the sake of countering George Bernard Shaw’s statement, evil can take root irrespective of whether you are lacking money or have tons of it. In fact, in my opinion, the evil perpetrated by those who have it all is more malicious than the evil forced out of deprivation.
What is your take on this?
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I don’t necessarily agree with the statement “The want of easy money is the root of all evil.” It depends where you are coming from. If you work as hard as you can for your family at 2 jobs and are still barely surviving, “The want of easy money” is certainly top of your list. How can that be EVIL?
I completely agree with your take on this, particularly the “easy” part. I usually equate evil with corporate greed (Enron?!)…your statement is well put in this instance. I don’t think you were referring to the person working two jobs for his family, who is just just seeking some relief in the form of easy money.
I agree with the biblical definition. Wanting easy money isn’t bad, but I don’t really think it exists. “Easy” money meaning passive income, royalties, etc., as opposed to wages, is usually preceded by a lot of hard work.
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