The Conduct of Life Quotes
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Source: The Conduct of Life
Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Money often costs too much.
Context
This quote can be found in a collection of essays called The Conduct of Life, by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1860).
No surprises here: this quote about money is found in an essay called "Wealth." In the essay, Emerson ponders money matters like how humans should earn and spend it. He would have definitely been a great help to hip-hop mogul Diddy (or is it Puff Daddy? or P. Diddy? or Puffy?) while he was writing "It's All About the Benjamins."
In The Conduct of Life, Emerson pretty much tries to figure out…well, everything. So it's no surprise that some people find this collection to be his best work while others think it's absolute trash.
Hey, some people just don't want to be told how to live.
Where you've heard it
You've probably heard your parents recite this at the dinner table when you're complaining about not getting an advance on your allowance. Other places you might hear it are when your Econ professor is going on a rant, or from a well-read yet stingy friend who doesn't want to pay for their meal at the local greasy spoon.
If you catch our drift, this phrase would come up whenever money is involved and the person speaking isn't too optimistic about their chances of acquiring it. It can also be about the corrupting power of money, or "Mo money, mo problems" as the late, great hip-hop philosopher The Notorious B.I.G. once said.
Be ready to spot your buddy a five or discuss a celebrity's money issues if this phrase comes up in conversation.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
You know, this isn't the worst thing you could say at the dinner table. In fact, you can probably pass yourself off as sounding pretty wise and smart with money if you say this to someone.
But there's also the chance you might sound like a stingy stick in the mud. Just make sure you're with people who are cool with the occasional economic one-liner.