Hello Friends! Today’s Northern Expression starts with a pretty famous Jonathan Swift quote, but we recently happened upon Lord Bolingbroke’s response and we loved the two together as a conversation so here you go:
“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” – Jonathan Swift (in a letter to Lord Bolingbroke)
Lord Bolingbroke’s response: “A wise man should take care how he lets money get too much into his head, for it would most assuredly descend to the heart.”
I wonder why we don’t hear Lord Bolingbroke’s response as much as Swift’s quote because it’s basically the same sentiment with clarification. If you spend too much time thinking about money, it becomes the obsession and cannot be separated from your heart. It is a reminder that money is a tool. It is not the goal.
Happy Friday, friends.
Love, Maggie
MrFireStation
Hasn’t been an issue for us, otherwise I’d still be working. You do have to wonder when you see celebrities that spend their millions without thinking. Johnny Depp has been in the news with a lawsuit against his agent. He allegedly spent all of his money on a $2 million/month lifestyle. Yikes!
MaggieBanks
And you didn’t get stuck doing the one-more-year syndrome for yourself! You were able to keep yourself detached from the actual dollar amount enough to not get greedy. Well done!
Chris @ Keep Thrifty
That’s great! I loved the first quote but the second one was even better. You nailed it – money should be viewed as a tool – not a goal itself 🙂
MaggieBanks
Yes! Let’s put those tools to work on things that really matter!
Froogal Stoodent
Why don’t we hear Bolingbroke’s reply so often? Because Swift’s is pithier…