Money is such an amazing teacher: What you choose to do with

Suze Orman declared: “Money is such an amazing teacher: What you choose to do with your money shows whether you are truly powerful or powerless.” At first, her words strike the ear with practical wisdom, yet beneath them lies a truth as profound as any carved upon stone. For in the realm of human life, money is not merely coin or paper, but a mirror of the soul, revealing the hidden motives, fears, and desires of those who hold it. To treat money as a mere tool is to see only its surface; to treat it as a teacher is to recognize its power to expose the character of the heart.

The origin of this wisdom is found in Orman’s long journey as a guide in matters of finance and life. She came to see that wealth itself does not bestow dignity, nor does poverty alone strip it away. Rather, it is the way one handles money—whether hoarded in fear, spent in vanity, wasted in folly, or directed with wisdom—that reveals whether a person rules their life or is ruled by it. Thus, she speaks of power and powerlessness, not in the sense of armies or kingdoms, but in the sovereignty of one’s own spirit.

The ancients, too, spoke of this. In the scrolls of wisdom it is written: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The Greeks warned of Midas, who turned all to gold, yet starved for want of food. The Romans told of Crassus, the richest of men, who fell not by lack of wealth but by greed untempered by wisdom. In each tale, money served as a revealer of truth—it magnified both virtue and vice. To those who mastered it, money was a servant; to those enslaved by it, money was a tyrant.

Consider the story of Andrew Carnegie. Born in poverty, he rose to become one of the wealthiest men of his time. Yet his true power was not in the iron and steel that built his fortune, but in the libraries, schools, and institutions he created with his wealth. His choice revealed his spirit: he did not see money as an end, but as a tool to uplift future generations. Contrast this with rulers who squandered treasuries on palaces and wars, leaving their people destitute. One left a legacy of power, the other of powerlessness. Thus, the lesson of Orman’s words is written again in history.

The meaning for us is clear: every coin we spend is a declaration of who we are. To use money with intention is to exercise power; to spend without thought is to surrender it. True power is not measured in riches amassed, but in the wisdom with which riches are directed. Even the smallest sum, used with clarity and compassion, carries the dignity of mastery. Even great wealth, used with fear or waste, reveals a hollow spirit bound by chains.

Therefore, let each of us treat money as a teacher, listening to what it reveals about our choices. Do we spend to impress others, or to secure what is truly needed? Do we give in generosity, or clutch in fear? Do we build toward a future of stability, or burn today in restless hunger? In these answers, we uncover the truth of our inner strength. For money is not the root of evil, nor the crown of virtue—it is the torch that reveals which path we have chosen to walk.

In your own life, practice small acts of wisdom. Save not out of fear, but out of foresight. Spend not for vanity, but for value. Give not to be praised, but to lift another’s burden. Each act, though small, strengthens your sovereignty. In this way, you transform money from master to servant, from tyrant to ally. This is the path of true power.

Thus remember: “Money is such an amazing teacher.” Do not despise its lessons, nor worship its image. Let it reveal your heart, then purify your choices. For in learning to master what the world worships, you will discover a greater wealth—the wealth of freedom, dignity, and power over your own soul.