Money and women. They're two of the strongest things in the

Hear the voice of Satchel Paige, the legendary pitcher of the Negro Leagues, who once declared with disarming honesty: “Money and women. They’re two of the strongest things in the world. The things you do for a woman you wouldn’t do for anything else. Same with money.” In these words we hear the wisdom of a man who had seen much of life’s struggles, triumphs, and temptations. He does not speak as a saint, nor as a moralist, but as one who observed with clear eyes the forces that move the hearts of men and shape the course of history.

The origin of this saying rests in Paige’s world—a world marked by hardship and perseverance, by nights under the glare of stadium lights and days of prejudice and poverty. To him, money was not a mere luxury, but survival, freedom, and opportunity. To him, women were not merely companions, but muses, trials, and sources of longing that could bend the strongest will. He saw both as irresistible forces, capable of lifting men to greatness or plunging them into ruin. Thus, he names them not lightly, but as powers to be reckoned with.

History confirms his insight. Consider Mark Antony of Rome, who, for the love of Cleopatra, turned his back on empire, honor, and comradeship. What he would not abandon for ambition or for war, he abandoned for her. His choices, born of love and desire, reshaped the fate of Rome. So too with money, for countless kings and generals have risked their lives and legacies in pursuit of gold. Recall the Spanish conquest of the New World, where vast expeditions were launched not for virtue, but for treasure. Thus, Paige’s observation is no idle remark—it is a truth engraved in the chronicles of history.

Yet within this truth lies both greatness and danger. For these two forces—money and women—can inspire men to acts of courage, sacrifice, and creation, or to acts of betrayal, greed, and destruction. They are mirrors that reveal the state of the heart. In pursuit of money, some build empires of generosity; others sow corruption and war. In pursuit of women, some find love that ennobles them; others fall into folly that destroys them. Paige names them as the strongest things because they reach into the deepest places of human desire, commanding loyalty beyond reason.

But the lesson is not that these forces should be shunned. No, the lesson is that they must be mastered. For strength itself is neither good nor evil—it is the hand that wields it that decides its destiny. To love a woman with devotion and respect is to honor life’s most sacred bond. To use money wisely, to feed, to build, to free others, is to turn wealth into blessing. But to be enslaved by either is to surrender one’s soul to forces that should serve, not rule. Paige’s words, though wrapped in humor, remind us that we must not only recognize these powers, but also rise above their snares.

The lesson for us, then, is clear: know what moves you, and guard your heart against the loss of reason. When love calls, answer it not with recklessness but with honor. When wealth tempts, pursue it not with greed but with discipline. Let these forces inspire greatness, not folly. For if unchecked, they will rule you; but if mastered, they will serve you as instruments of strength.

Practically, this means examining the choices you make. Ask yourself: would I do this for money if it cost me my integrity? Would I do this for love if it cost me my freedom or my truth? Let desire be tempered by wisdom, and let pursuit be guided by principle. Remember that the strongest forces in the world can either enslave or empower—depending on how you walk with them.

So let us carry Satchel Paige’s words as both warning and wisdom: “Money and women. They’re two of the strongest things in the world.” Let us not despise them, for they are part of the human story. But let us not be mastered by them either, for the true measure of strength is not in the pursuit of wealth or love, but in the mastery of one’s own soul. In this way, what could be chains may instead become wings, lifting us toward lives of dignity, balance, and lasting greatness.