The now widely known and used phrase "money does not smell" has an ancient origin. The popular expression was born during an instructive conversation between the Roman emperor and his son.
Books keep history
The history of the origin of the expression "money does not smell" has come down to our days thanks to a book called "The Life of the Twelve Caesars", which is the most valuable monument of Roman literature. Its author is the ancient Roman historian, scientist-encyclopedist Gaius Suetonius Tranquill. He was very popular, the information he collected was often quoted, and his descriptions of emperors were often imitated.
The writer captivatingly described historical events and details from the life of rulers. He detailed biographical information about them, paying attention not only to their appearance and habits, but also to the personal contribution of each to the development of the Roman Empire. The events described in the book refer to the period when Rome from a republic became an Empire.
Divine Vespasian and his love of money
One of the great emperors whose life was described by the author of the book is Titus Flavius Vespasian, who was called the Divine Vespasian. His family was not noble. When representatives of his family came to power, the empire was greatly weakened after the rebellions.
A distinctive feature of Vespasian, for which he was rightly reproached, according to the writer, was the love of money. The emperor introduced new heavy taxes, significantly increased the tribute from the provinces. I bought things only for the purpose of selling them at a profit later. Without any hesitation, he sold job seekers, and excuses to defendants, without understanding whether they were innocent or guilty. The most predatory officials, as his contemporaries believed, he deliberately promoted to higher places in order to give them the opportunity to cash in, and then sue. Many believed that he was greedy by nature.
Vespasian was the one who said "money doesn't smell". Gaius Suetonius Tranquill described this incident in his book. The son reproached Vespasian for the fact that he taxed even the outhouses. Then the emperor, taking a coin from the first profit received, put it under the nose of his child and asked if it exudes a stench. To which the answer was "no". The adage that arose later, "money does not smell," became widely used.
The Roman satirist Decimus Junius Juvenal used this story with Emperor Vespasian in his satire: "The smell of income is good, whatever its origin." Thus, he also contributed to the fact that the expression "money does not smell" is not forgotten.
Tough times call for tough decisions
Not everyone condemned the emperor for greed. Some, on the contrary, believed that the extreme poverty of the imperial and state treasury forced him to tighten the exactions and extortion. Vespasian did not hide this. At the very beginning of his reign, he declared that in order to raise the state to its feet, he needed forty billion sesterces.
And this, in the opinion of the author of the book, was similar to the truth, since the emperor provided the best use for the “badly acquired”. He was generous to all classes. Many cities that suffered from earthquakes and fires were rebuilt better than before. Showed the greatest concern for talents and arts.
Thus, behind the now popular and half-joking saying "money does not smell" is a serious economic crisis ancient state and ambiguous, but still very creative solutions emperor.
The words "money does not smell", which in our time have become phraseological units, mean that it does not matter which way cash were earned and why this person got rich, the main thing is that there is money. Phraseologism characterizes an indiscriminate and shameless attitude to sources of income.
Nowadays, this stable expression is used when talking about dubious income obtained by dishonest and sometimes criminal means. It is used most often in relation to dishonest people who want to justify themselves. The expression is appropriate in order to emphasize the origin of funds and reproach a person for using such methods of enrichment.
Example of use in literature:
“You are a business man, you are right, of course. If it brings income… Dad always says: Money doesn’t smell” (A. Tolstoy).
History of occurrence
This popular expression has Latin roots. In Latin it sounds: Pecunia non olet (also Aes non olet).
Here is a story that has come down to our days and gave rise to this phraseological unit. Emperor Vespasian decided to tax public toilets, which did not bother him at all. However, his son reacted with disgust to this initiative and expressed disapproval during the collection of the tax. The emperor objected to him, he brought a coin to his nose and asked if there was a smell, the son answered in the negative, but this is money from urine, the emperor added.
Variations today
Nowadays, the expression has taken on a sharply negative connotation.. The expression is capacious and therefore is the basis for numerous variations on the theme of money. This idiom is very popular in demotivators and posters, as well as in popular culture, the media, and fiction. Here are examples of phrases that begin with the words "Money doesn't smell":
- but many flock to their smell.
- but then your reputation stinks.
- and maybe they smell, but you don’t have time to sniff.
- Yes, because they are washed.
- but very sorry.
Other phraseological units.
Money doesn't smell
Money doesn't smell
The expression arose from the words of the Roman emperor (69-79 AD) Vespasian, said by him, as Suetonius reports in his biography, on the following occasion. When Vespasian's son Titus reproached his father for imposing a tax on public latrines, Vespasian brought the money from this tax to his nose and asked if they smelled. To the negative answer of Titus, Vespasian said: "And yet they are from urine." The verse of Juvenal's 14th satire goes back to the words of Vespasian: "The smell of income is good, whatever its origin."
Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. - M.: "Lokid-Press". Vadim Serov. 2003 .
Money doesn't smell
The expression arose from the words of the Roman emperor (69-79 AD) Vespasian, said by him, as Suetonius reports in his biography, on the following occasion. When Vespasian's son Titus reproached his father for imposing a tax on public latrines, Vespasian brought the money from this tax to his nose and asked if they smelled. To the negative answer of Titus, Vespasian said: "And yet they are from urine." The verse of Juvenal's 14th satire goes back to the words of Vespasian: "The smell of income is good, whatever its origin."
Dictionary of winged words. Plutex. 2004
See what "Money doesn't smell" in other dictionaries:
The Great Cloaca in Rome Pecunia non olet (also Latin Aes non olet "money does not smell") is a popular Latin expression. Words attributed to Emperor Vespasian, allegedly uttered by him after receiving money from a tax on public latrines in Rome and ... Wikipedia
Money doesn't smell- Simple. It doesn't matter how the money is received. [Leah:] You are a business person, you are right, of course. If it brings income... Dad always says: "Money doesn't smell" (A.N. Tolstoy. Dealer)... Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language
money doesn't smell- disapproved. about an indiscriminate attitude to the way in which the money was received. Expression - tracing paper from lat. Pecunia non olet, which is a statement of the emperor Vespasian (9 - 79 years), cited by the historian Suetonius in the "Life of the Twelve Caesars". ... ... Phraseology Handbook
Money doesn't smell- wing. sl. The expression arose from the words of the Roman emperor (69-79 AD) Vespasian, said by him, as Suetonius reports in his biography, on the following occasion. When Vespasian's son Titus reproached his father for imposing a tax on public ... ... Universal additional practical explanatory dictionary by I. Mostitsky
Razg. Unapproved About an indiscriminate attitude to how the money was received. BMS 1998, 156; BTS, 788; SHZF 2001, 65 ... Big dictionary of Russian sayings
money doesn't smell- disapproved. It doesn't matter if the money is obtained in an unseemly way... Dictionary of many expressions
The words spoken by Rom. Emperor Vespasian after receiving a tax on public latrines. Vespasian held the coins to the nose of his son Titus to assure him that there was no bad smell. Expression D.N.P. has become a saying that characterizes ... ... Sexological Encyclopedia
Money doesn't smell- (lat. "Non olet"), the words uttered by the emperor Vespasian after receiving money from the tax on societies, latrines and obrasch. to his son Titus, who expressed displeasure about this. Vespasian held the coins to Titus' nose to convince... ... Dictionary of antiquity
Money doesn't smell of Roman Trakhtenberg's television game, aired on the Muz TV channel. The program ran from May 2003 to April 14, 2004. Money doesn't smell Genre Television game Presenter(s) Roman Trachtenberg Country of origin ... Wikipedia
Money doesn't smell (TV show, Muz TV) Money doesn't smell TV game by Roman Trakhtenberg, aired on Muz TV channel. The program ran from May 2003 to April 14, 2004. Money doesn't smell Genre Television game Leading novel ... ... Wikipedia
Books
- Sometimes money smells; Without Money You're Dead by James Hadley Chase. Henry Sherman, US presidential candidate, in the midst of the election campaign, receives a "souvenir from Paris" - a video cassette with a recording of a porn film, where leading role performed by his daughter. The publicity will...
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For some time now, Latin sayings have begun to gain popularity. Today, knowledge of ancient phraseological units shows your mind and education. Therefore, many specifically memorize several dozen such expressions in order to pronounce them on occasion, exposing themselves from the best side. Unfortunately, everyone does not know foreign languages enough to understand what the whole point is right off the bat. Today we will talk about a rather strange statement, this Money doesn't smell, which means you can see a little later.
However, before I continue, I would like to advise you a couple of other articles on the subject of proverbs and sayings. For example, what does onion grief mean; what is the Gift of the Magi; which means to give oak; how to understand Two pair of boots, etc.
So let's continue what does money mean?? This catchphrase was borrowed from the Latin "pecunia non olet".
Money doesn't smell- means that it doesn’t matter how and in what place the money is earned, the main thing is that there should be a lot of them
According to historical documents, there lived such a popular emperor among his citizens Vespasian(lat. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, November 17, 9 - June 24, 79), and looking for additional income for the treasury, he came up with more and more new ways to replenish the budget. As a result, his inquisitive thought reached the public toilets, which in those days were called "urinary". However, the son of Vespasian did not like the idea of his father, and he reproached him for such an indecent fundraising. The emperor, on reflection, reached into his pocket, took out a handful of coins, and bringing his son to his nose, offered to sniff. The son admitted that money doesn't smell, and the tax on these establishments remained the same.
Actually, the toilets for the rich in Ancient Rome were marble buildings, which citizens entered not only for natural needs, but also for conversations or meetings. As it turned out later, Vespasian did the right thing, because the money poured into him like a full-flowing river.
As you know, kings, rulers and emperors are always short of money, and therefore they look for any opportunity to find additional source financing. For example, in Byzantium, a tax on air was introduced, which was expressed in the fact that all owners of multi-storey mansions must additionally "unfasten" money for such a luxury. After all, the more floors, the less air, argued those who introduced this funny quitrent.
In England in the 12th century there was a tax on cowardice for those who did not want to serve in the army.
In Russia, Peter the Great also introduced a lot of strange taxes, one of which was the "beard tax". Since in those days Peter dreamed of cutting a window to Europe, the appearance had to also comply with EU standards. However, whoever wanted to walk with a beard had to replenish the treasury of the Russian state.
After reading this simple article, you learned Money doesn't smell like value phraseologism, as well as its origin.
Tax on public toilets
In the 70s of our era, Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasian Sr. ruled Rome. The civil war that had just ended ruined the treasury and the ruler had to look for new ways to replenish it. Vespasian decided to impose a tax on public toilets. It is no secret that in those days baths and toilets, in addition to their direct purpose, were also centers of public life, the townspeople went there to talk and exchange breaking news. In addition, the Romans were so accustomed to marble public toilets that were forced to pay tribute. There is a legend that the son of Vespasian Titus reproached the emperor for the ignoble origin of money. Then the emperor brought the coins to his son's face and asked what they smelled like. Titus replied that nothing. To which Vespasian retorted: “Strange, but they are from urine!”. This is where the famous expression “money doesn’t smell” comes from.
tax on cowardice
In the XIII century, the English king John Landless after another war with the French, which ended ingloriously for the British, returned home. The treasury was empty, and the king was angry at the defeat. Then he ordered in 1214 to introduce an exorbitantly high tax for the barons who refused to take the side of the king in this military campaign. From each knightly fief, he ordered to collect three marks, that is, more than 40 shillings in silver. This marked the beginning of the resistance of the English nobility. The northern barons rebelled first. Dissatisfaction with the king's policies grew, and as a result, the barons renounced their vassal allegiance to John. The king was powerless and entered into negotiations with the rebellious barons. The result was the signing of the Magna Carta.
Sparrow tax
No matter how strange it may sound, but such a tax really existed in Germany of the XVIII century. In Württemberg, since 1789, by decision of Duke Karl Eugene, they charged money for these small birds. Sparrows destroyed crops, so the owner of each house had to kill 12 pests, for which he was paid 6 kreuzers. Those who refused to chase birds were obliged to pay 12 kreuzers to the state. In consequence, this even led to an underground trade in dead sparrows.
beard tax
Everyone is well aware that in 1689 Peter I introduced a tax on beards. The sovereign wanted to make Russia more European and began with appearance. Beards were divided into several types - boyar, peasant, merchant, etc. A peasant could wear a beard in the village, but when entering and leaving the city he had to pay 1 kopeck for it. Merchants paid 60 rubles a year, large and foreign merchants 100. Peter ordered bearded men to walk in clothes with a standing collar so that they would be uncomfortable, and if someone walked in a different vestment, then a fine was imposed on him. Those who could not pay the debt for a beard to the state were sent to hard labor. Then Peter got tired of fighting beards and simply forbade them.
Window tax
In 1696, a window tax was introduced in England. Glass windows, due to the high cost of glass, were available only to wealthy segments of the population, so the duties introduced by King William III, in fact, were a luxury tax. The tax was not introduced for every window: the owners of houses with 10-14 windows paid one amount, with 15-19 windows - another. Between 1747 and 1808 the tax was raised six times. It was very easy to assemble because the windows are perfectly visible from the street. Such a law had an impact on the culture and architecture of England, houses began to appear in which window openings were bricked up. Some houses had no windows at all. British doctors complained about this, since damp apartments without light and fresh air were an excellent environment for the spread of various diseases. The window tax was abolished only in 1851.
tax on life
It would seem that what cannot be forced to pay for is the very fact of your existence. However, the English monarchs would argue here. For example, in the XIV century, King Edward, shortly before his death, introduced a poll tax - it was levied on every person over 14 years old at 4 pence a year. England was devastated by the war with France, so the government was looking for new ways to get income. In addition, the power went to the 10-year-old Richard II, whose entourage more than once put their hand into the royal treasury. Then the young ruler asked Parliament to raise the poll tax. English society was divided into 7 classes, of which wealthier citizens paid higher taxes. There was a fine for non-payment. Ultimately reckless financial policy king, constant wars and calamity economic situation England led to Wat Tyler's peasant uprising, which swept almost the entire country.
Bicycle tax
In 1910, in Simbirsk, the City Duma passed a law according to which each owner of a bicycle had to pay 50 kopecks to the city. Cyclists received a book with the rules of the road for this. For example, they were forbidden to ride on sidewalks, gardens and parks, and also to drive in large groups around the city. Each bike also had to attach a license plate.
