A little poem from the book the Philosophy of bitcoin

I stumbled upon this poem while reading The Philosophy of Bitcoin by Alvaro Di Maria, I thought I'd share it with y'all. Originally written by the Spanish satirist Francisco de Quevedo in the 17th century, it paints a vivid and ironic portrait of money as the true ruler of society, mockingly referred to as the "Lord of Dollars." In the poem, money wields power over kings, priests, and scholars, corrupts justice, seduces virtue, and elevates fools, all while commanding global reverence. What really hit me was how seamlessly this centuries-old critique of wealth and power fits into today's world. In the context of Bitcoin, the poem takes on new life. It highlights how our current financial system, driven by fiat currency and central control, continues to concentrate power and manipulate value. Quevedo’s words, reframed through the lens of Bitcoin, underline the urgent need for an alternative, a monetary system rooted in transparency, decentralization, and individual sovereignty. I must says I like it, reminds me of the literature I used to read back in high school from the humanism/renaissance/enlightenment writters about money. The way Quevedo personifies money as a corrupting force feels right at home alongside Erasmus, Montaigne, Voltaire, or even Rousseau. It’s kind of beautiful, really, like the old ideals of liberty, reason, and dignity merging with the tools of a digital age. "For a trifle more or less All his power will confess, Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. […] And the ugliest at his side Shines with all of beauty’s pride; Over kings and priests awl scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. He’s a gallant, he’s a winner, Black or white be his complexion; He is brave without correction As a Moor or Christian sinner. He makes cross and medal bright, And he smashes laws of right,— Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Noble are his proud ancestors For his blood-veins are patrician; Royalties make the position Of his Orient investors; So they find themselves preferred To the duke or country herd,— Over kings and priests and scholars, Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars! Of his standing who can question When there yields unto his rank, a Hight-Castillian Doña Blanca, If you follow the suggestion?— He that crowns the lowest stool, And to hero turns the fool,— Over kings and priests and scholars, Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. On his shields are noble bearings; His emblazonments unfurling Show his arms of royal sterling All his high pretensions airing; And the credit of his miner Stands behind the proud refiner, Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Contracts, bonds, and bills to render, Like his counsels most excelling, Are esteemed within the dwelling Of the banker and the lender. So is prudence overthrown, And the judge complaisant grown,— Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Such indeed his sovereign standing (With some discount in the order), Spite the tax, the cash-recorder Still his value fixed is branding. He keeps rank significant To the prince or finn in want,— Over kings and Priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Never meets he dames ungracious To his smiles or his attention, How they glow but at the mention Of his promises capacious! And how bare-faced they become To the coin beneath his thumb Over kings and Priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Mightier in peaceful season (And in this his wisdom showeth) Are his standards, than when bloweth War his haughty blasts and breeze on; In all foreign lands at home, Equal e’en in pauper’s loam,— Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars." —Quevedo on #Bitcoin Translation by Thomas Walsh submitted by /u/Specialist_Key6832 [link] [comments]

Apr 20, 2025 - 23:02

I stumbled upon this poem while reading The Philosophy of Bitcoin by Alvaro Di Maria, I thought I'd share it with y'all. Originally written by the Spanish satirist Francisco de Quevedo in the 17th century, it paints a vivid and ironic portrait of money as the true ruler of society, mockingly referred to as the "Lord of Dollars." In the poem, money wields power over kings, priests, and scholars, corrupts justice, seduces virtue, and elevates fools, all while commanding global reverence. What really hit me was how seamlessly this centuries-old critique of wealth and power fits into today's world. In the context of Bitcoin, the poem takes on new life. It highlights how our current financial system, driven by fiat currency and central control, continues to concentrate power and manipulate value. Quevedo’s words, reframed through the lens of Bitcoin, underline the urgent need for an alternative, a monetary system rooted in transparency, decentralization, and individual sovereignty.

I must says I like it, reminds me of the literature I used to read back in high school from the humanism/renaissance/enlightenment writters about money. The way Quevedo personifies money as a corrupting force feels right at home alongside Erasmus, Montaigne, Voltaire, or even Rousseau. It’s kind of beautiful, really, like the old ideals of liberty, reason, and dignity merging with the tools of a digital age.

"For a trifle more or less

All his power will confess,

Over kings and priests and scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

[…]

And the ugliest at his side

Shines with all of beauty’s pride;

Over kings and priests awl scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

He’s a gallant, he’s a winner,

Black or white be his complexion;

He is brave without correction

As a Moor or Christian sinner.

He makes cross and medal bright,

And he smashes laws of right,—

Over kings and priests and scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

Noble are his proud ancestors

For his blood-veins are patrician;

Royalties make the position

Of his Orient investors;

So they find themselves preferred

To the duke or country herd,—

Over kings and priests and scholars,

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars!

Of his standing who can question

When there yields unto his rank, a

Hight-Castillian Doña Blanca,

If you follow the suggestion?—

He that crowns the lowest stool,

And to hero turns the fool,—

Over kings and priests and scholars,

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

On his shields are noble bearings;

His emblazonments unfurling

Show his arms of royal sterling

All his high pretensions airing;

And the credit of his miner

Stands behind the proud refiner,

Over kings and priests and scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

Contracts, bonds, and bills to render,

Like his counsels most excelling,

Are esteemed within the dwelling

Of the banker and the lender.

So is prudence overthrown,

And the judge complaisant grown,—

Over kings and priests and scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

Such indeed his sovereign standing

(With some discount in the order),

Spite the tax, the cash-recorder

Still his value fixed is branding.

He keeps rank significant

To the prince or finn in want,—

Over kings and Priests and scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

Never meets he dames ungracious

To his smiles or his attention,

How they glow but at the mention

Of his promises capacious!

And how bare-faced they become

To the coin beneath his thumb

Over kings and Priests and scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars.

Mightier in peaceful season

(And in this his wisdom showeth)

Are his standards, than when bloweth

War his haughty blasts and breeze on;

In all foreign lands at home,

Equal e’en in pauper’s loam,—

Over kings and priests and scholars

Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars."

—Quevedo on #Bitcoin

Translation by Thomas Walsh

submitted by /u/Specialist_Key6832
[link] [comments]