Is it better to be honest and poor or dishonest and rich?
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The way I view it my honesty does not have any far reaching or important consequences. So if I lie, it typically does not have any significance (I'm never in a position where lying would do anything really bad).
To me gaining wealth would allow me to improve society and peoples lives, while money is perishable the good it spreads is most certainly not. Whereas choosing honesty may make me happy, but won't affect anyone else in a meaningful way (quite selfish).
That's how I reason it.
To me gaining wealth would allow me to improve society and peoples lives, while money is perishable the good it spreads is most certainly not. Whereas choosing honesty may make me happy, but won't affect anyone else in a meaningful way (quite selfish).
That's how I reason it.
Original post by Ganjaweed Rebel
It's time to ask yourself why you associate dishonesty with wealth and poverty with honesty. This thinking dates back to a time when wealth was created by slaves and appropriated by the strong but we now live in times when wealth is a product of your mind so now time to adjust your belief of what wealth implies about a person.
Wealth has always been associated with dishonesty throughout the centuries. Our times make no exception. Most people I know or can think of have made their money dishonestly. Having said this, I consider "rich" something positive and "poor" negative, and would ideally like everyone to be "rich". However, rich or poor don't truly matter, they are indifferent with respect to virtue.
Original post by ashaxo99
this entire topic is too subjective to generalise and argue objectively
If what is rational is subjective then we are lost...
Original post by usualsuspects
Wealth has always been associated with dishonesty throughout the centuries. Our times make no exception. Most people I know or can think of have made their money dishonestly. Having said this, I consider "rich" something positive and "poor" negative, and would ideally like everyone to be "rich". However, rich or poor don't truly matter, they are indifferent with respect to virtue.
It was true when slaves built pyramids in Egypt and when Africans were sold by Europeans in America or when the Nazis used Slavic and Jewish slave labour.
Today people who get top jobs are generally those who went to top universities and networked well. See the difference?
Original post by usualsuspects
If what is rational is subjective then we are lost...
even though we all may like to think of rational as objective, it seems to be that it is subjective shown by the conflicting views in this thread - assuming the notion that humans generally act and think rationally.
Original post by MiszShortee786
I had this intriguing conversation with my friends the other day and this is one of the topics that arose. So what is your opinion on this matter Tsrians?
Is it better to be honest and poor or dishonest and rich?
Looking forward to your opinions.
Is it better to be honest and poor or dishonest and rich?
Looking forward to your opinions.
I have had a lifetime of growing up within a poor family so my answer to this question is honest and poor. Without going into too much detail and boring people, life is what you make it, I have never been envious of people with substantial amounts of money and resources- as my mother says what you don't have you don't miss.
Dishonesty and being rich do not come hand in hand even if you reverse this being poor does not mean you are honest
Original post by Reue
Honesty doesnt pay the mortgage
O tempora, o mores
Original post by Ganjaweed Rebel
It was true when slaves built pyramids in Egypt and when Africans were sold by Europeans in America or when the Nazis used Slavic and Jewish slave labour.
Today people who get top jobs are generally those who went to top universities and networked well. See the difference?
Today people who get top jobs are generally those who went to top universities and networked well. See the difference?
Slavery is not the only form of dishonesty though.
I don't necessarily think that the professionals are the dishonest rich, although they are generally prone to certain dishonest practices. in fact, I'm appalled by how the populace always attacks the dignified upper middle class, or the 1%, and then glorifies billionaires, who represent a serious dysfunction, much more than people who inherit a couple of houses, have a good education and may or may not earn well in qualified professions.
Original post by usualsuspects
I don't necessarily think that the professionals are the dishonest rich, although they are generally prone to certain dishonest practices. in fact, I'm appalled by how the populace always attacks the dignified upper middle class, or the 1%, and then glorifies billionaires, who represent a serious dysfunction, much more than people who inherit a couple of houses, have a good education and may or may not earn well in qualified professions.
I don't necessarily think that the professionals are the dishonest rich, although they are generally prone to certain dishonest practices. in fact, I'm appalled by how the populace always attacks the dignified upper middle class, or the 1%, and then glorifies billionaires, who represent a serious dysfunction, much more than people who inherit a couple of houses, have a good education and may or may not earn well in qualified professions.
The upper middle classes are among the most despicable in terms of craven fake poor, holier than thou type behaviours
Original post by Ganjaweed Rebel
The upper middle classes are among the most despicable in terms of craven fake poor, holier than thou type behaviours
It's a composite group. The radical chic, fake poor, champagne socialists are rather upsetting, but luckily there's more than that.
Honest and poor
I think it's better to be a honest person than to rich and dishonest. If you're always tell lies, eventually it catches up to you and no one will trust you. If you're poor and honesty, people would like you better and that's good character to always to be honest than someone who never tells the truth. I think always being dishonest brings more trouble than being honest.
(edited 6 years ago)
To be honest and poor you are not inflicting damage upon somebody, e.g. selling something that has been stolen or not paying back your debt, While being poor and honest you won't have any guilt or fear of the 'unknown' of what might happen.
To be rich and dishonest does have the benefit of living a luxurious life for a few years (but with the burden of responsiblities as you often see happiness that is shown on their faces), but respect that is earned while being dishonest is limited, for example if you are doing business with a partner they would sacrifice their personal opinions for the cause of progression in a project. Or the similar bloodline etc. To have no morality, whats to stop a poor person killing the rich person because they are known for their dishonesty? Would the society condemn or commemorate such action.
To be rich and dishonest does have the benefit of living a luxurious life for a few years (but with the burden of responsiblities as you often see happiness that is shown on their faces), but respect that is earned while being dishonest is limited, for example if you are doing business with a partner they would sacrifice their personal opinions for the cause of progression in a project. Or the similar bloodline etc. To have no morality, whats to stop a poor person killing the rich person because they are known for their dishonesty? Would the society condemn or commemorate such action.
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