Does Money change a person?

The last time I wrote about money was in this article(Click here). Now again I choose to write this up because, for many years I heard random people say about someone like, “He changed when he got money. That money didn’t just go into his hands, pockets, or bank accounts but it traveled up to the head.” You also could be familiar with these statements. The first question is, so, does money change a person?

Let us begin the arguments clearly, what does money do? It acts as a medium of exchange, for goods and services. You already know the theory of the evolution of money. The chart starts with the barter system and ends with modern-day currency. As a medium of exchange and a storage of value, money carries a certain value. When you have money, you have freedom and power with it. Money is a most liquid form of wealth. You got a piece of paper? It doesn’t carry value. Is that a piece of paper money? There, my friend, you got some value. This value that money carries gives you the freedom to own what you want. When you can own a lot of things that you want then, you gain a lot of power.

So, the argument further goes like, it’s not just money but the power that comes with it. The primary thing that goes into the head of any man is not just money but the arrogance that he has power. He can buy any damn thing with money you know? He can buy businesses, he can buy fame, he can buy praise, can buy lavish lifestyle, he can buy prestigious positions. You get a sense of freedom when you own any of these things in your life. Money> Freedom> Power. This is the sequence that emerges. So, again another question might arise in your mind– Is it money and power combined that change a person?

There is a quote from Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the US, which goes like “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” That’s perfectly true to the core. Observe here, did he say power changes a man’s character? Nope. He said give a man power and you will see his true character.

So, finally in conclusion for the arguments and questions above like, what changes the man? Whether it's money or power or the freedom it provides? The answer is none of them. The factual thing is that money brings in power. But what happens after you get power? Does your character change? No, no. What happens after you or any man gets to power is that his real character emerges. He was hiding it deep underneath himself because he had no money and power. He didn’t have that courage earlier to bring his character to reality. He was just hiding it. 

So, if you feel or see anybody change after they got money and power remember there isn’t any change. That man suppressed his original character for the time being. He revealed his true identity when he got the freedom to be what he truly is. Please don’t blame it on money or power. It was him. The human. If you want to credit something then credit where it is due. It’s not that he changed, the thing is he is hiding himself no more. The true face is what you witness.

Hare Krishna.