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Reminds me of a German saying I can't quite remember (something like 'erber, gerber, versterber'). Basically the first rich generation is very frugal because they had to work hard to attain it. The second generation maintains it, not really adding more but not frittering it away either, and the third generation throws it away on ski resorts and fancy cars.

That's also one of the few things I do respect about 'old money': they really drill it into their kids to not be ostentatious and wasteful with the familial wealth, thus escaping the aforementioned trap.



Is it this one:

> Die erste Generation schafft Vermögen, die zweite verwaltet Vermögen, die dritte studiert Kunstgeschichte, und die vierte verkommt.

> Bismarck (1815–1898)

EN:

> The first generation creates wealth, the second manages wealth, the third studies art history, and the fourth degenerates.


“My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel” - Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum


I have heard it in english too: First generation earns it, second learns it, third burns it.




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