Having Money Is More Important Than Having Knowledge

As children, our parents try to inculcate good habits such as honesty, hard work and dedication while also narrating the story about a monkey who stole butter from the cats in order to make both the cats' share equal. Being rich or being righteous doesn't sound like a dilemma but the more people you give this option to, the more you realize that there isn't an obvious answer to this question.

We are all part of this economically driven society where money is a status symbol. Big house, expensive car and luxurious vacations is what people like to brag about. But the question is, how far would you go to fit into the top tier of this societal pyramid. Everything isn't purely black or white, there are a million shades of grey in between. The 12 year old boy who stole a 10 rs wada pav, which was his first meal in 2 days, to survive is not the same as a rich businessman flying abroad in order to avoid going to jail for financial fraud and money laundering. According to the rules of righteousness, both these actions are unjustifiable yet one seems a little more acceptable than the other.

American businessman, Warren Buffett, once said 'In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you.' Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It is said that a man who runs behind money will never achieve true success but is it really true? Does integrity pay enough? And if so, why do the 'hustlers' get away with unlawful acts?

The millennials and the gen z are all growing up on coffee and Netflix, going to their 9-5 jobs while binge watching Breaking Bad and Narcos. Not everyone is going to get influenced and start cooking meth in their basement yet almost each and every person has imagined how convenient it would be to do so. Our moral code stops us from committing crimes yet white collar crimes don't seem as damaging as others to some.

There is no confusion about how important being rich in this world is but how far does one go to get there is the question. In situations like these, psychology comes into play. Being rich might make you happy but does being rich by using wrong methods give peace of mind? Or does it always stay at the back of your mind, eating you from the inside?

Being rich or being righteous is very subjective. For some nothing is more important than money while others refuse to give up on their morality. In a country like India, where we prefer giving Rs.100 to the traffic police than paying the fine we are charged of for breaking the traffic rules, it’s really difficult to say if people choose to be righteous. We speak about the wrongdoings of politicians and how corruption is the backbone of this country, yet we do so little to reduce it. Money gets things done, and we pay for it. We pay for getting a driver’s license without giving the test and we pay for the treatment of the poor man we ran over while driving drunk just so he doesn’t file a court case. We move on with our lives, without regrets. So why should we stop doing what we are doing? I mean all’s well that ends well, right? But at what cost?

Mahatma Gandhi said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” I want to see change. I want people to understand the importance of leading an honest life and setting and example for their children and grandchildren. I want people to believe in living a life full of love and respect in their hearts. You can only run so far after money before you realize that the street you are running on is making your feet bleed and your soul ache. There is no denying that we need money to survive yet money can’t buy happiness because happiness comes from within, satisfaction comes from within.

Yet I ask myself, how long can I keep my children and grandchildren happy with this mediocre lifestyle of truth and righteousness. Coming back to the question, my 24 year old self does not have an answer to it. Though idealistically, I would love to say I will choose to be righteous over rich every single day.