You said it, Henry
2010 March 12
“Money doesn’t change men, it merely unmasks them. If a man is naturally selfish or arrogant or greedy, the money brings that out, that’s all.” –Henry Ford
New York City’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, is rich. Quite rich. Multi-billionaire rich. I don’t know him personally (although someone tried to fix me up with him years ago), but he exudes cockiness every time he’s on TV or in the press. He even succeeded in overturning a law preventing him from running for a third term. Then he spent like a madman on advertising to win the election. He didn’t win by much, but he won.
Michael Bloomberg acts like he’s smarter than everyone else. In fact, he may be smarter than many of us, but he’d have more appeal if he exhibited some modesty. (I previously used the word diffident, but Duchesse told me I had the wrong word, so I changed it.)
Lots of money can have terrific power over us.
It can make us more popular. It doesn’t give us real friends.
It can buy us closets of clothes and drawers of jewelry. It doesn’t give us style.
It can give us access to top doctors and talented lawyers. It doesn’t give us health or ethics.
It can take us on exotic trips. It doesn’t make us cultured.
It can do a world of nice things. It doesn’t make us nice, and we know it doesn’t make us happy.
I know a FOF woman who is married to one of the richest men in the United States. She doesn’t have a haughty bone in her body. She radiates style, charm and intelligence. She’s had a tough life in many respects. All the money in the world couldn’t change that.
I admire her perspective.
10 Responses
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How do you know he isn’t happy?
I don’t actually know. I will rephrase that.
Geri
Diffidence is the lack of self-confidence, most often demonstrated by hesitance in acting or speaking.
I do not wish for a mayor of New York to be diffident. I would, however, like him to be gracious in acknowledging his achievements, and respectful of the trust placed in him by the citizenry.
Hi Duchesse,
It can mean reserved in manner, I believe.
Geri
Thank you, Geri. I enjoy your blog & read it often.
Thank you, Lisa. Where do you live? Did you join the site?
Have a great weekend.
Geri
I so love to hear about really rich and smart people who are wonderful, don’t you? Love to hear stories about their humility, kindness, generosity, and overall goodness. “To whom much is given much is expected.” I don’t like to hear about the Mayor. Exception – when David Letterman gives him all matters of hell on his talk show such as forgetting his name, making fun of his height, his policies, etc. Bloomberg’s arrogance is probably why he doesn’t let up on him. Have you ever heard Letterman? Letterman loved Rudy.
Hi Preppy 101
Haven’t heard Letterman go on about Bloomberg, but will listen for it.
G
hahaha, Geri, when I saw the Title, I thought you were referring to the comment that Indiana Jones makes to Marian Ravenwood in the first Indy movie (because his real name is Henry), when they’ve finally gotton on the freighter. “It’s not the age; it’s the mileage.”
I think this is another example of how men and women differ. Men use money for power, women use money for empowerment.