NO MONEY NO LIFE
"Literally and truly, one cannot get on well in the world without money." Straight to the point is the starting sentence of William Hazlitt's essay. Sans money, one's life is plagued with never-ending torment until its very end.
I know many people who hold that same mindset, especially my parents. They've been on both sides of the fence, which gives even more merit to their belief. The rural Chinese village my parents grew up in versus cushy (in comparison) house we live in today are worlds apart, the main difference being money. Thus explains their motives behind pushing me to do well in school (to earn that bread).
Therefore, I don't disagree with Hazlitt's statement; I've had the same adage (reworded of course) instilled into me since birth. I'd just like to add on to it.
Hazlitt's claim seems to imply that the opposite situation is true: with money, one can get on well in this world. While I do agree, I do only to a certain degree. Money can buy happiness; whoever said contrary is delusional. I find pleasure in shopping and definitely from eating out with friends, experiences bought using money. Money can also buy comfort; instead of living on the streets, a person could rent an apartment in an affordable housing complex.
Except, none of that implies true wellness. Wellness, by definition, is the state of being in good health, health being a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (as defined by WHO).
Even with money, wellness is not a guarantee. This much can be seen through the multitudes of well-earning actors and singers who have struggled to reach wellness and resorted to drugs or even took their own lives. Instead, it's a state that must be indefinitely worked towards for one's entire life. If you don't succeed, you'll die trying, and money won't be the easy way out.
I know many people who hold that same mindset, especially my parents. They've been on both sides of the fence, which gives even more merit to their belief. The rural Chinese village my parents grew up in versus cushy (in comparison) house we live in today are worlds apart, the main difference being money. Thus explains their motives behind pushing me to do well in school (to earn that bread).
Therefore, I don't disagree with Hazlitt's statement; I've had the same adage (reworded of course) instilled into me since birth. I'd just like to add on to it.
Hazlitt's claim seems to imply that the opposite situation is true: with money, one can get on well in this world. While I do agree, I do only to a certain degree. Money can buy happiness; whoever said contrary is delusional. I find pleasure in shopping and definitely from eating out with friends, experiences bought using money. Money can also buy comfort; instead of living on the streets, a person could rent an apartment in an affordable housing complex.
Except, none of that implies true wellness. Wellness, by definition, is the state of being in good health, health being a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (as defined by WHO).
Even with money, wellness is not a guarantee. This much can be seen through the multitudes of well-earning actors and singers who have struggled to reach wellness and resorted to drugs or even took their own lives. Instead, it's a state that must be indefinitely worked towards for one's entire life. If you don't succeed, you'll die trying, and money won't be the easy way out.
The last sentence of your blog is so compelling! It’s interesting that you talk about money being an easy way out, and it’s led me to think that although making money might be difficult, relying on it and not experiences, like you said, shows unwillingness to live life to the fullest.
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