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About this quote

What does it mean?
Lessing equates borrowing with begging and lending with interest with stealing, criticizing financial dependency and exploitation.
In plain terms
Borrowing is like begging and lending money with interest is like stealing.
What can you take from it?
Financial transactions can create inequality similar to begging or theft.

Where it applies

  • debating interest rates
  • discussing poverty
  • analyzing economics

Putting it to work

  • critique interest systems
  • evaluate financial ethics

Questions to consider

  • Is lending with interest ethical?
  • How does borrowing affect dignity?

Another view

Interest can also facilitate investment and economic growth.

More from Doris Lessing

  1. Better Counsel comes overnight.

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  2. For the last third of life there remains only work. It alone is always stimulating, rejuvenating, exciting and satisfying.

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  3. Some people obtain fame, others deserve it.

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