"We see mankind generally either (from ignorance or avarice) toiling too hard and becoming mere machines in order to acquire wealth"
You can read more of Thoreau's thoughts here.
Chinese Wisdom Concerning Money
[19September-2007 @ 17:11 EST: Revised preamble. This page still gets the most search hits: There is no Anthony de Croud. The e-mail is SPAM. I post things that pique my fancy at the moment. I like the 8 precepts, but the rest of the e-mail is junk. However, I thought it fair to post everything in its entirety. I did not write the e-mail. I did not forward the e-mail. I strongly encourage you not to forward it either. (I also encourage you to reply to whomever sent you the e-mail and tell them you don't appreciate getting junk mail.)] Received this in our e-mail (English translation follows): PRECEPTO CHINO SOBRE EL DINERO EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UNA CASA, PERO NO UN HOGAR, EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UN RELOJ, PERO NO EL TIEMPO. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UNA CAMA, PERO NO EL SUEÑO. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UN LIBRO, PERO NO EL CONOCIMIENTO. EL DINERO PUEDE PAGAR UN MÉDICO, PERO NO LA SALUD. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UNA POSICIÓN, PERO NO EL RESPETO. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR LA SANGRE, PERO
Comments
However, I think it is just the tip of the iceberg.
I think you'd really like Martin Heidegger's Question Concerning Technology , Richard. It's only about 30 pages, but he gives an incredible explanation and description of the western, modern paradigm.
Essentially, the westen mind views everything as a standing-reserve of potential energy, as the means toward an end. We never truly see things as they are, but only in how they can serve our needs. “To a certain extent, Heidegger argues, technology transforms humanity itself into standing-reserve. The forester, for example, is at the mercy of the paper industry, which in turn is at the mercy of the print industry, which in turn transforms the reading public into a source of its own profits. He also notes that our use of the expression "human resources" aligns human beings with raw materials such as coal or petroleum.We might say that for technology, nothing in the world is "good" in and of itself, but only "good for" something.” http://www2.hawaii.edu/~zuern/demo/heidegger/
well,i had a good read as usual. :)
thanx for sharing :)
Would be nice to eliminate this madness and go back to simpler times of subsistence farming ...much less stress and way more appreciation. Ah, should have been a pioneer! But, Susannah Moodie, I am not!!