31 Fascinating Quotes About Gold

31 Fascinating Quotes About Gold

Timeless wisdom and insights about gold's enduring significance from famous figures throughout history

Gold is a truly timeless metal. For at least five thousand years, people have sought after and used gold. It never rusts or corrodes. It's also the most malleable metal that exists on planet Earth.

Because gold is a substance with these very special properties, it has a long history of symbolic meaning for humanity. As such, there are many famous quotes about gold across different times and cultures around the world.

5,000+ Years

Historical significance

Never Rusts

Permanent durability

Most Malleable

Unique physical properties

Universal Symbol

Cross-cultural meaning

Quote Collections

Inspirational Gold Quotes

The pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow, not the beginning.
Anonymous
Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.
Dan Gable
If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging.
Alan Menken
Gold never comes to the dreamers—except in dreams.
Anais Nin
The desire for gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Investment Wisdom

Ralph Waldo Emerson's insight about gold representing "freedom and benefit" resonates today with investors who purchase gold as financial security and portfolio diversification. Gold's appeal extends beyond its physical properties to its role as a store of value.

It is extraordinary how many emotional storms one may weather in safety if one is ballasted with ever so little gold.
William McFee
Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.
Norm Franz
It was not curiosity that killed the goose who laid the golden egg, but an insatiable greed that devoured common sense.
E.A. Bucchianeri
A person may not like someone else's religion, but he'll accept his gold.
Robert Kiyosaki
Timeless Appeal: These quotes reflect gold's universal acceptance and enduring value across cultures and belief systems. For modern investors, understanding current gold prices helps apply this historical wisdom to today's markets.

Gold Proverbs Throughout History

The Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
Anonymous
Gold will be slave or master.
Horace
Where gold speaks, every tongue is silent.
Italian proverb
Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths.
Queen Elizabeth I
The castle gates will always open for gold-laden donkeys.
Russian proverb
Real gold is not afraid of the melting pot.
Chinese proverb

Cultural Wisdom

These proverbs from different cultures demonstrate gold's universal recognition as a symbol of power, authenticity, and value. The Chinese proverb about "real gold" not fearing the melting pot particularly resonates with investors who see precious metals as tested stores of value during economic uncertainty.

Eloquence avails nothing against the voice of gold.
Latin proverb
The miser does not own the gold, the gold owns the miser.
Chinese proverb

European Wisdom

Italian, Russian, and Latin proverbs emphasize gold's power to influence decisions and open doors, reflecting centuries of observation about gold's role in society.

Eastern Philosophy

Chinese proverbs focus on authenticity and balance, warning against both doubt in genuine value and excessive attachment to material wealth.

Gold And Money

Gold is money. Everything else is credit.
JP Morgan
Although gold and silver are not by nature money, money by nature is gold and silver.
Karl Marx

Monetary Insight

J.P. Morgan's famous declaration that "gold is money" remains relevant today as investors seek alternatives to fiat currencies. Both gold and silver continue to serve monetary functions in investment portfolios, providing tangible value independent of government backing.

Gold and silver are constituted, by the nature of things, money, and universal money, independent of all convention, and all laws.
Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot
Gold still represents the ultimate form of payment in the world. Fiat money in extremis is accepted by nobody. Gold is always accepted.
Alan Greenspan
Governments lie; bankers lie; even auditors sometimes lie. Gold tells the truth.
Lord Rees Mogg
Because gold is honest money, it is disliked by dishonest men.
Ron Paul
We have gold because we cannot trust governments.
Herbert Hoover
Gold will be around, gold will be money when the dollar and the euro and the yuan and the ringgit are mere memories.
Richard Russell

Historical Perspective

From J.P. Morgan to Alan Greenspan, financial leaders across centuries have recognized gold's unique monetary properties. These insights remain relevant for modern investors considering precious metals.

Modern Application

Tracking gold prices and silver market trends helps investors apply these monetary insights to contemporary portfolio strategy.

The Gold Standard

The superiority of the Gold Standard consists in the fact that the value of gold develops independent of political actions.
Ludwig von Mises
In the absence of the Gold Standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. There is no safe store of value.
Alan Greenspan
The Federal Reserve Act as it stands seems to me to open the way to a vast inflation of the currency. I do not like to think that any law can be passed that will make it possible to submerge the gold standard in a flood of irredeemable paper currency.
Henry Cabot Lodge

Inflation Protection

Alan Greenspan's observation about protecting savings from inflation remains highly relevant today. Many investors turn to precious metals as hedges against currency debasement, making understanding of both gold and silver price movements essential for portfolio protection strategies.

[I]f the overriding objective is price stability, we did better with the nineteenth-century gold standard and passive central banks, with currency boards, or even with 'free banking.' The truly unique power of a central bank, after all, is the power to create money, and ultimately the power to create is the power to destroy.
Paul Volcker
The reason we need to have a gold and silver-based currency is to bring discipline to the financial system so the government can't go out and do all sorts of bad things.
Bernard von NotHaus
A real gold standard is thoroughly consistent with [classical] liberal principles and I, for one, am entirely in favor of measures promoting its development.
Milton Friedman

Economic Philosophy

  • Political independence of value
  • Protection from inflation
  • Financial system discipline
  • Price stability mechanisms

Modern Relevance

  • Portfolio diversification benefits
  • Hedge against currency risks
  • Store of value properties
  • Historical wealth preservation

Consider these principles when evaluating gold investment strategies for your portfolio.

Timeless Principles: These quotes from renowned economists and policymakers highlight enduring concerns about monetary stability and the role of gold in financial systems. While we no longer operate under a gold standard, these insights remain valuable for understanding gold's continued appeal as an investment asset.

The Enduring Wisdom of Gold

These 31 quotes span centuries and cultures, yet they share common themes: gold's reliability, its role as a store of value, and its independence from political manipulation. Whether viewed through the lens of ancient proverbs, economic theory, or investment strategy, gold continues to inspire wisdom about wealth, value, and financial security.

For modern investors, these historical perspectives provide context for understanding why gold remains relevant in contemporary portfolios. The metal's enduring appeal reflects the timeless human need for financial security and protection against economic uncertainty.

Disclaimer: These quotes are presented for educational and inspirational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Precious metal investments involve risk, including potential loss of principal. Always consult with qualified financial advisors before making investment decisions.

"Eloquence avails nothing against the voice of gold."
—Latin proverb "The miser does not own the gold, the gold owns the miser."
—Chinese proverb ##Gold And Money## "Gold is money. Everything else is credit."
—JP Morgan
quote7
"Although gold and silver are not by nature money, money by nature is gold and silver."
—Karl Marx
quote8
"Gold and silver are constituted, by the nature of things, money, and universal money, independent of all convention, and all laws."
—Anee-Robert-Jacques Turgot "Gold still represents the ultimate form of payment in the world. Fiat money in extremis is accepted by nobody. Gold is always accepted."
—Alan Greenspan "Governments lie; bankers lie; even auditors sometimes lie. Gold tells the truth."
—Lord Rees Mogg "Because gold is honest money, it is disliked by dishonest men."
—Ron Paul "We have gold because we cannot trust governments."
—Herbert Hoover "Gold will be around, gold will be money when the dollar and the euro and the yuan and the ringgit are mere memories."
—Richard Russell ##The Gold Standard## "The superiority of the Gold Standard consists in the fact that the value of gold develops independent of political actions."
—Ludwig von Mises "In the absence of the Gold Standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. There is no safe store of value."
—Alan Greenspan "The Federal Reserve Act as it stands seems to me to open the way to a vast inflation of the currency. I do not like to think that any law can be passed that will make it possible to submerge the gold standard in a flood of irredeemable paper currency."
—Henry Cabot Lodge "[I]f the overriding objective is price stability, we did better with the nineteenth-century gold standard and passive central banks, with currency boards, or even with 'free banking.' The truly unique power of a central bank, after all, is the power to create money, and ultimately the power to create is the power to destroy."
—Paul Volcker "The reason we need to have a gold and silver-based currency is to bring discipline to the financial system so the government can’t go out and do all sorts of bad things."
—Bernard von NotHaus "A real gold standard is thoroughly consistent with [classical] liberal principles and I, for one, am entirely in favor of measures promoting its development."
—Milton Friedman ---------- **Read more information about precious metals from the experts at Gainesville Coins:** [Why Is Gold So Valuable? [Updated for 2022]](/blog/why-is-gold-valuable-complete-guide) [How Much Silver Is There in the World?](/blog/how-much-silver-in-the-world) [Why You Can't Buy Gold or Silver at Spot Price](/blog/why-you-cant-buy-silver-at-spot-price) [The Basics of Gold Bullion: Everything You Need to Know](/blog/what-is-bullion) [Why Palladium Prices Keep Going Up](/blog/why-palladium-prices-keep-going-up)
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