I don't want to waste anyone's time or money. I want to give

Hear, O children of song and truth, the words of Mos Def, poet of rhythm and prophet of the streets, who declared: “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift.” These words, though born in the world of music, carry the weight of ancient wisdom. They remind us that every voice, every gift, every art is not for vanity alone, but for service. Time is precious, wealth is fleeting, but the heart, when lifted by truth and positivity, gains strength that cannot be measured.

The meaning of this saying is clear: to live and to create without purpose is to squander life’s most sacred resources. When Mos Def speaks of not wasting time or money, he shows reverence for the people who listen, for those who give their attention and trust. The artist, the teacher, the leader—all stand as stewards of the moments and spirits of others. To use that sacred trust for falsehood, for empty spectacle, for greed, is to betray it. But to offer truth and to bring a heart lift is to honor that trust, to give back more than one receives.

The origin of these words lies in Mos Def’s own journey. Born into the struggles of Brooklyn, he rose not only as a rapper but as a seeker of meaning. His art was never meant to be hollow entertainment, but a vessel of honesty—words that spoke to injustice, hope, resilience, and the deep rhythm of human life. In declaring his desire to lift hearts, he aligns himself with the ancient tradition of the bard, the prophet, the wise storyteller whose words do not merely amuse, but awaken.

Consider the story of Frederick Douglass, who, once enslaved, rose to speak truth with fiery eloquence. He stood before crowds who gave their time and attention, and he did not waste it with flattery or half-truths. Instead, he poured out the truth of bondage and the vision of freedom. His words did not simply inform—they lifted hearts, igniting courage in the oppressed and stirring conscience in the free. Like Mos Def, Douglass understood that speech is sacred, and to speak falsely is to waste the lives of those who listen.

Mark also the example of Martin Luther King Jr., whose sermons and speeches lifted the hearts of millions. He could have sought comfort or silence, but he chose instead to give truth—truth about justice, truth about equality, truth about the power of love. He did not waste the time of his people, who came weary and desperate; instead, he gave them a positive heart lift, a vision that carried them through suffering and into transformation. His life reveals that words, rightly used, are among the most powerful tools for shaping history.

O seekers of tomorrow, take this teaching into your soul: do not waste the time of others with vanity, with bitterness, with emptiness. When you speak, let your words be filled with truth. When you act, let your actions bring positivity. When you create, whether in art or in labor, let it lift the hearts of those around you. For every moment you touch another life is sacred. Do not squander it, but honor it, and you will leave behind a legacy of light.

Practical wisdom says: before you speak, ask, “Will these words bring truth? Will they bring hope?” Before you work, ask, “Will this labor serve or waste?” Before you share your presence, ask, “Will I leave this soul lighter or heavier?” Choose always the path that uplifts, for the measure of a life is not in wealth hoarded or fame won, but in hearts strengthened and spirits renewed.

Thus remember the vow of Mos Def: “I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift.” Let it be your vow also. Live so that your every word, every deed, every creation becomes a gift of honesty and encouragement to others. And when your days are done, it shall be said that you did not waste the time or the treasure of others, but that you left them with truth in their minds and light in their hearts. This is the highest calling, the noblest art, and the eternal legacy.

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