In our country there is hardly a person who has never heard the expression - " Money doesn't smell"Some citizens, having heard this saying for the first time, decided to smell the banknotes and found out that money has its own special aroma.
So where did this saying come from and why is it clearly untrue?
This expression originates from those very ancient Romans. The citizens of the great Roman Empire were sharp-tongued and from time to time real masterpieces were born from their lips. The meaning of this saying should not be taken literally. This expression means that it does not matter how the profit is made, even if the source of these funds has a clear criminal odor.
The history of the saying “Money has no smell”
The expression Pecunia non olet (Money has no smell) is attributed by historians to the famous Roman emperor named Titus Flavius Vespasian, who had the good fortune to live in the first century AD. This emperor became the founder of the Flavian dynasty.According to the respected Roman historian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, who wrote in his book “The Lives of the Twelve Caesars,” that this expression was used in the form of dialogue, and not in the form of direct speech.
Arguing with his son Titus, who reproached his father for taxing the public toilets of Rome, Vespasian, in a rage, snatches one coin and brings it to his son’s nose. He then asks - “ Does she smell bad?"
The son nods his head negatively. Then Vespassian adds " That's piss money, son."It was this little incident that gave rise to such a famous saying.
However, in today’s world, in order to make the use of banknotes more convenient, they began to print them on paper. As you know, paper perfectly absorbs all kinds of odors and more. Roman coins were minted from metal and, accordingly, had no smell.
The now widely known and used phrase “money doesn’t smell” has ancient origins. The catchphrase 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 has no smell” has reached our days thanks to a book called “The Lives of the Twelve Caesars,” which is the most valuable monument of Roman literature. Its author is the ancient Roman historian, encyclopedist Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. He was very popular, the information he collected was often quoted, and his descriptions of emperors were often imitated.
The writer fascinatingly described historical events and details from the life of the rulers. He revealed in detail 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 nicknamed the Divine Vespasian. His family was not noble. When his family came to power, the empire was greatly weakened by 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 and significantly increased tribute from the provinces. He bought things only for the purpose of selling them later at a profit. Without any hesitation, he sold job seekers to job seekers and excuses to defendants, without knowing whether they were innocent or guilty. As his contemporaries believed, he deliberately promoted the most predatory officials to higher positions in order to give them the opportunity to profit and then sue them. Many believed that he was greedy by nature.
It was Vespasian who said “money has no smell.” Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus described this incident in his book. The son reproached Vespasian for taxing even the outhouses. Then the emperor, taking a coin from the first profit received, stuck it under his child’s nose and asked if it gave off a stench. To which the answer was “no”. The proverb “money has no smell” that arose later 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 ensuring that the expression “money has no smell” was not forgotten.
Difficult times call for difficult decisions
Not everyone condemned the emperor for greed. Some, on the contrary, believed that he was forced to tighten extortion and extortion by the extreme poverty of the imperial and state treasury. Vespasian did not hide this. At the very beginning of his reign, he declared that to raise the state to its feet, he needed forty billion sesterces.
And this, according to the author of the book, was similar to the truth, since the emperor provided the best use for the “badly acquired money.” He was generous to all classes. Many cities that suffered from earthquakes and fires were rebuilt better than before. He showed the greatest care for talents and arts.
Thus, behind the popular and half-joking saying “money has no smell” there is a serious economic crisis of the ancient state and controversial, but still very creative decisions of the emperor.
Money doesn't smell Simple. It doesn't matter how the money was received. [ Leah:] You are a business person, you are right, of course. If it brings in income... Dad always says: “Money has no smell”(A.N. Tolstoy. Businessman).
Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST.
A. I. Fedorov.
Money doesn't smell 2008. See what “Money doesn’t smell” is in other dictionaries:
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 introducing a tax on public latrines,... ...
Dictionary of popular words and expressions- The Great Cloaca in Rome Pecunia non olet (also Latin: Aes non olet “money has no smell”) is a popular Latin expression. Words attributed to Emperor Vespasian, allegedly spoken by him after receiving money from a tax on public latrines in Rome and ... Wikipedia money doesn't smell
Money doesn't smell- disapproved about an indiscriminate attitude towards how money was received. The expression is a tracing paper from Lat. Pecunia non olet, which is a statement of Emperor Vespasian (9 - 79), cited by the historian Suetonius in “The Lives of the Twelve Caesars”.... ... Phraseology Guide
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 introducing a tax on public... ... Large dictionary of Russian sayings
Dictionary of popular words and expressions- disapproved It doesn't matter if the money was obtained through unseemly means... Dictionary of many expressions
Dictionary of popular words and expressions- words spoken by Rome. Emperor Vespasian after receiving a tax on public latrines. Vespasian held the coins to the nose of his son Titus to convince him of the absence of a bad smell. Expression D.N.P. has become a saying characterizing... Sexological encyclopedia
Money doesn't smell- (Latin “Non olet”), words spoken by Emperor Vespasian after receiving money from the tax on societies, latrines and circulation. to his son Titus, who expressed displeasure about this. Vespasian brought the coins to Titus's nose to convince... ... Dictionary of Antiquity
Money doesn't smell (TV show, Muz-TV)- Money doesn’t smell like a TV game by Roman Trakhtenberg, aired on the Muz TV channel. The program was aired from May 2003 to April 14, 2004. Money doesn't smell Genre Television game Host(s) Roman Trakhtenberg Country of origin ... Wikipedia
Money doesn't smell (TV show- Money doesn’t smell (TV show, Muz TV) Money doesn’t smell, a TV game by Roman Trakhtenberg, aired on the Muz TV channel. The program was aired 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 Chase James Hadley. Henry Sherman, a US presidential candidate, in the midst of the election campaign receives a “souvenir from Paris” - a videotape with a recording of a porn film in which his daughter plays the main role. There will be publicity... Buy for 412 rubles
- Sometimes money smells. Without money, you're dead, Chase J.H.. Henry Sherman, a US presidential candidate, in the midst of the election campaign receives 171;a souvenir from Paris 187;- a videotape with a recording of a porn film in which his daughter plays the main role. Publicity…
Money doesn't smell- a catchphrase from the Latin phrase Pecunia non olet (Money has no smell, lat.).
The emperor of ancient Rome Vespasian (9-79 AD) introduced a tax on toilets. His son Titus reproached his father for this. But the emperor brought the coin to his nose and asked if it smelled. The son replied no.
“Money doesn’t smell,” Vespasian said, “but it’s money from urine.”
This story was described by the ancient Roman historian Suetonius Gaius Tranquillus (c. 75 - 160 AD) in the book “The Lives of the Twelve Caesars” (book 8 “The Divine Vespasian”) - “Titus reproached his father for taxing the toilets; He took a coin from the first profit, brought it to his nose and asked if it stinks. “No,” Titus answered. “But this is money from urine,” said Vespasian.
This idea was later reflected by Juvenal XIV. 204:
"...All profit smells
It will be good..." (Lucri bonus est odor ex re qualibet, lat.)
Historian Basovskaya Natalya Ivanovna (b. 1941) in the book “All Heroes of World History” (2018), chapter “Vespasian. Peasant on the Throne,” writes:
“Vespasian began to earn money by trading mules. Meanwhile, Roman senators, and noble people in general, were forbidden to engage in trade, especially such ignoble animals. Vespasian immediately received the nickname Mule Driver, which remained with him until his death. And having become emperor, Vespasian established a tax on public toilets - in essence, he introduced the concept of a “paid toilet.” There is a well-known aphorism, allegedly belonging to Vespasian, “ Dictionary of popular words and expressions" With these actions he does not challenge anyone, he simply lives according to his own concepts. Since the mule trade gives money, it means it is worth doing. You have to support your family!"
Examples
(1925 - 1991), (1933 - 2012)
"Roadside Picnic" (1972):
“Come on, everyone knows that,” Redrick said. Money doesn't smell... now I know it..."
Every day, every person must use two things - the toilet and money. But few people think about, or even know, that these two things are not only interconnected, but are also the “parents,” so to speak, of the catchphrase “money has no smell.” In the original, this Latin catchphrase sounds like this: Pecunia non olet (from the Latin Aes non olet - “money does not smell”). Where did the expression “money has no smell” come from?
The history of the appearance of this catchphrase goes back to the distant 69-79 years of our era and is associated with Rome. During this period, the post of Roman emperor was held by a certain Vespasian. According to various historical data, this emperor was a fairly prominent statesman with a number of advantages. He was distinguished, first of all, by his extreme frugality and ingenuity. Being in the role of head of his state, Vespasian tried in every possible way to fill the treasury, and therefore showed his resourcefulness in introducing new taxes.
It is worth noting that during this period, a sewer system already existed in Rome, created during the reign of the fifth king of Ancient Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Prisca, who ruled from 616 to 579 BC. This sewer was called the Great Cloaca (Cloaca Maxima). It is worth noting that this sewer system exists to this day, and even functions, however, not like all modern sewers, but as a storm sewer. The width of its channel is 3 meters wide and 4 meters deep. Gradually, with the development of the sewer system, public toilets began to appear (latrins - from the Latin “latrina”). The cloaca was the main channel into which sewage from city baths and public toilets was collected using various branches from it. There were branches all over the city, and there were even those that collected sewage from private houses. However, the appearance of public toilets was also preceded by the beginning of the formation in civilized Europe of such concepts as “shame,” “embarrassment,” and “public morality.” Thus, scientists attribute the birth of the first toilets to the Hellenistic era (323 BC - 30 AD).
During archaeological excavations in Rome, it was found that a toilet existed in almost every home. Moreover, not only on the first floors. Sewer drain pipes made it possible to build toilets even on the second floors of residential buildings. In addition, public toilets also began to appear, because civilized people had already grown to the level where they began to understand that not all things should be available for public viewing, and in addition, there are some things of a hygienic and intimate nature that require separate room. The very first public toilets appeared in gymnasiums (schools where physical education was taught, hence the name of the famous sports discipline “gymnastics”) and were installed for the purpose of maintaining personal hygiene and sanitation. Public Roman toilets were distinguished by their sufficient comfort. They were equipped with marble seats, and were also connected to a fairly developed plumbing system - sewage was washed away by the flow of water, first into the Tiber, and then into the Mediterranean Sea.
Who said money doesn't smell?
Having come to power, Vespasian decided to introduce a tax on Roman latrines - latrines, i.e. public toilets. This tax was called cloacarium. Since the idea of paying for public toilets belongs to Vespasian, it is believed that it was he who said the well-known expression “money has no smell” today. It is unlikely that he said this phrase verbatim; no one can verify this today. However, there is some written evidence that Vespasian is the author of this catchphrase. This expression is first found in the work of Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus “The Lives of the Twelve Caesars”, but this phrase is not given there in the form of direct speech of the Roman emperor, but the situation is described as follows.
Vespasian's son Titus reacted negatively to his father's decision and condemned him for reaching out to the outhouses and taxing even them. Some time passed, and the cloacarium gave a significant increase to the state treasury. Then, when this money was received, Vespasian had a conversation with his son, during which he took one coin from the first profit, brought it to his son's nose and asked him if he smelled an unpleasant odor. Titus' answer to the question was "no." Hearing this, the emperor said, “But still, it is made of urine.”
Today, this catchphrase is known to absolutely everyone and is interpreted as follows: the money was not earned in a completely clean or honest way.
