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The saying “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” is common when it comes to examining people’s relationship to money. The meaning of Money Talks, Wealth Whispers is that true wealth is quiet. But where did “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” come from?
“Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” stems from the late 19th century, where rapid industrialism led to significant economic growth. Businessmen like John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie amassed huge fortunes, and used their wealth to influence opinions, politics, and dynamics in society.“
“Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” captures the influence that wealth can bring, as well as the acknowledgement that the truly wealthy don’t need to flaunt their money.
Where did “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” come from?
“Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” comes from the observation of the role of money in our society.
It’s the recognition that money can make things happen, but true wealth can quietly move mountains. Wealth can be used as a tool to build the life you want. And the wealthiest people have the ability to influence society and politics in their favour. Now wealth is not always used in this way, but this influence is where the saying arises from.
In the late 19th century, industrialism led to the accumulation of huge fortunes for the likes of John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie.
Rockefeller built his fortune in the oil business, helping to build the refining industry and stabilize oil prices. J.P. Morgan was an incredibly talented businessman and financier, reorganizing several railroads, and financing organizations that turned into United States Steel, International Harvester, and General Electric. Carnegie made his money in the steel business, building Carnegie Steel Corporation into the largest steel company in the world.
Because of his influence, Rockefeller was able to negotiate with vendors to further increase his wealth. J.P. Morgan was able to secure a meeting with the president to discuss treasury bond sales. And Carnegie used his powerful position to defend economic policies that benefitted him.
Money can make things happen, but it’s this true wealth that has the ability to quietly influence at the highest levels. Nowadays, politicians have a personal interest in maintaining good relationships with wealthy individuals and corporations. This is where they get their campaign support, and when a politician leaves his political position, good relations can result in a comfortable private sector job. For an interesting recent example of this, check out Robert Mercer’s influence in the book The Man Who Solved the Market.
This growth of wealth and influence is at the core of the saying “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers.” True wealth doesn’t have to be loud to get things done.
What does “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” mean?
“Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” at its core means that true wealth is unspoken, and is quiet.
“Money Talks” means that money can be flashy, and those who want to prove they have money can be loud. It’s the fancy clothes and sportscars that people can see. But this image can be faked, in fact the income of the average BMW owner is likely lower than you think. People can make choices with their finances that make them look wealthier than they truly are. So though this image can look good on the outside, it’s not necessarily indicative of a person’s true net worth.
“Wealth Whispers” means that true wealth is quiet. And those with true wealth don’t need to be loud to have influence. True wealth comes with the freedom to do whatever you want to do, and not feel the need to impress others. Wealth is the ability to quietly take care of those around you, and live comfortably within your means. The wealthy don’t need to impress others as they are secure in their financial situation.
With this in mind, think about how you can quietly build wealth in your life.
Where can “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” be seen?
The idea of “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers” can be seen in a lot of different facets of life:
Cars
I’m sure you know someone who, the moment they started making money, went out and bought/leased a fancy new car. Cars are a very visible signal to others, and lots of people are driving a more expensive car than they can afford just to impress others. Whereas according to The Millionaire Next Door, less than 25% of millionaires drive new cars. The wealthy know cars are not a good investment, and only drive nice cars when they can afford them.
Homes
The saying house-poor represents someone who is putting all of their money into their home. People who want to appear rich are concerned with how their home looks from the outside. Contrast that with the wealthy, and they are often looking for a private location, and they’ll upgrade the inside – a place that exists for them to enjoy and not to impress others.
Clothing
Similar to cars, clothing can be a very visible status symbol. But like cars, a lot of people who are wearing luxury or designer clothing aren’t as well off as they appear. Unless a wealthy person is passionate about clothing, they’ll often opt for high-quality clothing that looks good, fits well, and lasts.
Home Goods
Home goods (e.g., towels, soap, etc.) is a way that wealth can whisper. The wealthy value their comfort and good experiences, and they’re willing to splurge on that. This will appear quietly through someone’s home in the form of high-quality home goods.
Health
Another way wealth whispers is through physical health. Wealthy people have the means to pay for high quality food, personal training, home gyms, etc. They also value their health over the pursuit of impressing others, putting energy into longevity.
Philanthropy
Wealthy people quietly donate to causes that matter to them. They don’t do this to impress others, but rather because it’s meaningful to them, and they have the means to help those that need it.
Live by the saying “Money Talks, Wealth Whispers”
As shown in this article, the key takeaway is that wealth quietly enables a high-quality life, without the flashiness and effort it takes to try to impress others.
Be secure in what you’re doing, and focus on building yourself and your wealth, rather than splurging on things that only exist to impress others.