The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land, seems to have no genuine devotees in these peculiar villages; and unless some of its missionaries penetrate there, and erect banking houses and other pious shrines, there is no knowing how long the inhabitants may remain in their present state of contented poverty.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The passage suggests that certain villages lack devotion to money and banking, implying their contentment is due to a lack of commercial influence.
- In plain terms
- Some places stay happily poor because they do not care much about money or banks.
- What can you take from it?
- Commercial values can disrupt simple contentment.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is poverty ever preferable to wealth?
- How does money change communities?
Another view
Poverty is not always a sign of contentment or virtue.
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