Who wrote a famous novel in 1957 where a key character says, "Money is the barometer of a society's virtue"?

The line "Money is the barometer of a society's virtue" is from a speech by Francisco d'Anconia in Ayn Rand's famous and final novel, "Atlas Shrugged" (1957). Rand's quote became well known shortly after her book was published.

In the book, Francisco is pondering the question: "Is money the root of all evil?" Instead of simply stating "no", he takes a few thousand words to reach the conclusion that "Money is the barometer of a society's virtue" and "Money is the root of all good".

Financial advisors from The Society of Financial Service Professionals, an organization that establishes, upholds and promotes worldwide professional standards for financial services and planning, wrote "Money can drive people out of their minds". "Money can be used for good and bad."

Individuals on all sides of the American political spectrum have used Rand's quote from her novel "Atlas Shrugged". They point out to those who think this quote is the perfect example of Rand's "greed is good" philosophy and those who use it to defend her view on the importance of real money being a gold standard and not one where it's just printed paper that's almost worthless. Money in its simplest form is just a tool to enhance the way most individuals live within society.

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William Laughlin

Ayn Rand's views were selfish and hypocritical. She criticized and eschewed social programs in her books, yet accepted Medicare and Social Security payments and enjoyed other socialist benefits American life afforded her. In her books she provided wide-ranging parables of "parasites," "looters" and "moochers" using the levers of government to steal the fruits of her heroes' labor. In the real world, however, Rand herself received Social Security payments and Medicare benefits under the name of Ann O'Connor (her husband was Frank O'Connor). As Michael Ford of Xavier University's Center for the Study of the American Dream wrote, "In the end, Miss Rand was a hypocrite, but she could never be faulted for failing to act in her own self-interest." It seems she was the parasite, the looter, and the moocher she so vehemently abhored in her writing. The question of "money being the root of all evil" displays her misunderstanding of the original quote from the Bible, which states that "the LOVE of money is the root of all evil." Money in and of itself is not evil; it is a practical tool when used properly.

William Laughlin

Rajnish Gautam, Ayn Rand's views were selfish and hypocritical. She said she eschewed social programs, yet accepted Social Security payments and enjoyed the socialist benefits American life afforded her. In her books she provided wide-ranging parables of "parasites," "looters" and "moochers" using the levers of government to steal the fruits of her heroes' labor. In the real world, however, Rand herself received Social Security payments and Medicare benefits under the name of Ann O'Connor (her husband was Frank O'Connor). As Michael Ford of Xavier University's Center for the Study of the American Dream wrote, "In the end, Miss Rand was a hypocrite, but she could never be faulted for failing to act in her own self-interest." It seems she was the parasite, the looter, and the moocher she so vehemently abhored in her writing.

William Laughlin

Marian Spitzig, Ayn Rand's view were selfish and hypocritical. She said she eschewed social programs, accepted Sicial Security payments and enjoyed the socialist benefits American life afforded her. In her books she provided wide-ranging parables of "parasites," "looters" and "moochers" using the levers of government to steal the fruits of her heroes' labor. In the real world, however, Rand herself received Social Security payments and Medicare benefits under the name of Ann O'Connor (her husband was Frank O'Connor). As Michael Ford of Xavier University's Center for the Study of the American Dream wrote, "In the end, Miss Rand was a hypocrite, but she could never be faulted for failing to act in her own self-interest." It seems she was the parasite, the looter, and the moocher she so vehemently abhored in her writing.