I read Andrew Carnegie’s essay on wealth in which he posits, that innovation means that a small percentage of extraordinary people will have a great amount of wealth. It is fruitless to fight these people. This is simply a law of nature in display. Humanity tried communism and socialism. It didn’t work. Man is simply not designed to live that way.
He goes further to share his thoughts on his belief that wealth in the hands of the millionaire is simply a trust that is to be stewarded and properly disbursed for the common good of society, during his lifetime. He says this is more valuable than if the monies were to be divided and distributed among people. Which is true, because if you gift people money, a large percentage will spend it on fleeting things. However if you build public goods, generations benefit. I am inspired to ensure that my outlook on life should be multigenerational. He gives examples of funding research, building public institutions, parks etc. He also shares that he does not believe in all of a man’s fortune being bequeathed to his children, or as a bequest after his death. This is so profound to me, because lately I’ve been thinking of what my legacy should be.
I am a direct beneficiary of Andrew Carnegie’s giving. He built a library where I live that I’ve visited multiple times. I am also a beneficiary of his wisdom long after he died over 100 years ago. because he wrote. I need to write more.