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AStern

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2. Here's a great article about that quote:

Reply to generalbetrayus (Original post)

Tue Jun 30, 2026, 02:47 PM

Yesterday

Quote Origin: If You Would Know What the Lord God Thinks of Money, You Have Only to Look at Those to Whom He Gives It

Dorothy Parker? Martin Luther? Jonathan Swift? Alexander Pope? Anne Marsh-Caldwell? Matthew Poole? Richard Steele? Thomas Guthrie? Austin O’Malley? Maurice Baring?

Question for Quote Investigator: A scathing comment about wealthy people has been attributed to the U.S. writer Dorothy Parker:

If you would know what the Lord God thinks of money, you have only to look at those to whom he gives it.

Similar comments have been credited to German theologian Martin Luther, Anglo-Irish satirist Jonathan Swift, and English poet Alexander Pope. I do not know whether any of these attributions are correct because I am having difficulty finding solid citations. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: An interview with Dorothy Paker appeared in “The Paris Review” in 1956. Parker employed the quotation under examination; however, she credited the statement to the English man of letters Maurice Baring. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:1

I hate almost all rich people, but I think I’d be darling at it. At the moment, however, I like to think of Maurice Baring’s remark: “If you would know what the Lord God thinks of money, you have only to look at those to whom he gives it.” I realize that’s not much help when the wolf comes scratching at the door, but it’s a comfort.

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/05/28/god-money/

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Highlight:

"If you want to see how God feels about money, just look at the people he gives it to." - Dorothy Parker [View all] generalbetrayus Yesterday OP

I'm going to remember that one. Haggard Celine Yesterday #1

Here's a great article about that quote: AStern Yesterday #2

I'm not at all surprised the quote is not original with Dorothy Parker. There are tons of quotes generalbetrayus Yesterday #3

Same. It's a great quote and I'm sure Parker repeated it often when needed. AStern Yesterday #5

God Matthew28 Yesterday #4

I was taught literalism as a young Baptist Torchlight Yesterday #6

written by a human that lusted for gold dave99 Yesterday #8

Written by a bunch of men all lusting for gold and building a religion to make themselves wealthy. erronis Yesterday #9

Given the small sampling of wealthy I know personally, it's apt. Torchlight Yesterday #7

I've known one person whom I consider wealthy AverageOldGuy Yesterday #10

I love Dorothy Parker's wit. SergeStorms Yesterday #11