Wealth gives people power and influence; those with money can get what they want and make things happen.
This phrase appeared in American English in the late 1600s, reflecting the growing influence of commerce and capitalism. It became particularly popular during the Gilded Age when industrial fortunes demonstrated the power of wealth.
The personification of money as having a 'voice' reveals our complex relationship with wealth - we simultaneously critique and acknowledge its power. The phrase is cynical yet realistic, capturing the uncomfortable truth about how financial resources translate into social and political influence.
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