Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.
The real sting of Barnum's observation lies in what it refuses to do—it doesn't condemn money itself, which most moralizing about wealth attempts. Instead, he identifies a precise failure of character: the person who reverses the proper relationship, making themselves subordinate to their accounts rather than the reverse. Watch how a sudden inheritance ruins some families while others use the same windfall to buy themselves freedom, and you'll see exactly what he means—the difference isn't the money, but who's working for whom.
“Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you.”
Tony Hsieh“It's not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
Seneca“Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.”
Ayn Rand“Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want to impress people they...”
Will Rogers