A quotation by Harris, Sydney J.

Men may be divided almost any way we please, but I have found the most useful distinction to be made between those who devote their lives to conjugating the verb “to be” and those who spend their lives conjugating the verb “to have.”

Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986) Anglo-American columnist, journalist, author

For the Time Being, ch. 6, epigram (1972)

#quote #quotation #avarice #being #existence #greed #human-nature #humanity #ownership #possessions #self-awareness

More notes and sourcing on WIST: https://wist.info/harris-sydney-j/43346/

A quotation by Roosevelt, Franklin Delano

We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) US President (1933-1945)

Inaugural Address (20 Jan 1937)

#quote #quotation #avarice #economics #greed #morality #policy #power #prosperity #self-interest

More notes and sourcing on WIST: https://wist.info/roosevelt-franklin-delano/5373/

A quotation by Sadat, Anwar

Most people seek after what they do not possess and thus are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire. They become prisoners of their desires even though they appear to be free.

Anwar el-Sadat (1918-1981) Egyptian soldier and statesman

In Search of Identity (1978)

#quote #quotation #acquisition #avarice #desire #materialism #possession

More notes and sourcing on WIST: https://wist.info/sadat-anwar/3406/