Wealth Cannot Turn Back Time (Podcast)

In this podcast we discuss a short moral essay of Samuel Johnson. In the essay, a narrator, who was once poor but now is rich, desires to return to his hometown and treat with condescension those who once viewed him with disdain. His scheme of petty revenge, however, does not play out as he wishes. We explain why, and what the implications are.

Continue reading

Jean de La Bruyère’s Thoughts On Money, Wealth, And Fortune

The French essayist and philosopher Jean de La Bruyère achieved a degree of notoriety for his work Characters (Les Caractères ou les Mœurs de ce siècle), which he published in 1688.  He died young, at the age of 50 in 1696; perhaps his pen might have produced more marvels had fortune provided him more longevity. 

Continue reading