Giving Makes You Rich

CONDÉ NAST PORTFOLIO ^ | November 2007 | Arthur C. Brooks

[Hornitos]

59. Huan / Dispersion [Dissolution]

above SUN THE GENTLE, WIND
below K'AN THE ABYSMAL, WATER

Six in the fourth place means:
He dissolves his bond with his group.
Supreme good fortune.
Dispersion leads in turn to accumulation.
This is something that ordinary men do not think of.

When we are working at a task that affects the general welfare, we must leave all private friendships out of account. Only by rising above party interests can we achieve something decisive. He who has the courage thus to forego what is near wins what is afar. But in order to comprehend this standpoint, one must have a wide view of the interrelationships of life, such as only unusual men attain.

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Would that the Kuwaitis had learned this lesson in the 1980's. They were wealthy, and ignored their poor brethren, who in turn turned on them and supported Saddam Hussein's invasion.

[VRWC For Truth]

My federal taxes enrich those in DC. I doubt increasing DC’s wealth is in my interest.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

(While people have differing amounts of money, they all have the same amount of time.)

Not really. When you have less money you also have less time because you can not afford to buy time savers. Everything takes a little longer when you have to do it the economy way.

[Vision Thing]

I agree. When people have more money, they can buy products and services that save them time. However, you may be taking this quote out of context. The author wrote it mainly to point out how regardless of income, people have the same amount of time for volunteer opportunities. It’s part of a larger argument he is trying to make: Namely, giving more results in higher incomes.

[Jorge]

God's laws apply in this situation, too. Governments don't benefit, because they're not really being charitable, plus they have to steal the money first.

Jesus said give unto "Caesar that which is Caesars" refering to taxes. He didn't seem to consider it stealing.

[the invisib1e hand]

sound analysis always winds up agreeing with God’s word.

[Vision Thing]

Despite the author’s avoidance of any biblical references to giving, we all know where Humanity got the idea of giving in the first place.

[the invisib1e hand]

first paragraph gives some clues. sometimes you have to speak poetically — sometimes it’s the only way people will hear.

[Tamar1973]

They were wealthy, and ignored their poor brethren, who in turn turned on them and supported Saddam Hussein's invasion.

Those "poor brethren" were mostly Palestinians. When Kwuatis got their country back after the Gulf War, they deported most of them.

[Hornitos]

Those "poor brethren" were mostly Palestinians.

Yes, but the greater point is they were still the Kuwaiti's brethren in that they are all Muslims, and Islam enjoins charity. The same principle of dispersing while accumulating applies across borders or within borders and across nationalities.