Quote by William Cobbett
Another great evil arising from this desire to be thought rich; or rather, from the desire not to be thought poor, is the destructive thing which has been honored by the name of speculation; but which ought to be called Gambling.
Summary
In this quote, the speaker highlights the negative consequences of the desire to maintain an appearance of wealth and avoid being perceived as poor. This desire, he argues, gives rise to a destructive activity commonly known as speculation but more accurately described as gambling. By focusing on superficial wealth rather than productive endeavors or genuine financial stability, this misguided pursuit can lead to detrimental outcomes for individuals and society as a whole.