"Greatness is depth of pocket"
"We have wrought sand into gold"
"For coin and country"
These are a few terms that illustrate Ul'dahn society's love for wealth, and I am interested in hearing people's interpretations of it and/or any lore references that seem to expand on it, as well as provide it with some depth.
I get the impression that some use their RL values on how they view Ul'dahn opulence, mostly because a good chunk of Western ethics tends to shun the lustrous pursuit of infinite wealth. But in defence of Ul'dah, I do not think the pursuit of wealth is done for the purposes of greed or hedonism. At least for my character, I/Kale interpret this "For coin!" mindset as meaning that wealth is the product of diligence and honest hard work.
Why is that? Because other than the royal family, there is no concept (or alternatively a lessened one) of inherited wealth in Ul'dah. Anyone, and absolutely anyone, can go from rags-to-riches. Raubahn, Roaille, so on. That is a massive point in Ul'dah's favour, especially in Raubahn's case. Right hand man of the sovereign and he isn't even from Ul'dah. This is different from Ishgard, where you are either born into the peasantry or born into the nobility, with no mobility worldstar! Or Gridania, where you are at the whims of the elementals. Your wealth is fought for. It's not simply given to you by virtue of birth.
It is from this that I believe that Ul'dah's love for coin equates to a love for hard work and earning your keep. Indeed, from "We have wrought sand into gold" shows a fierce pride in being able to set up Eorzea's wealthiest city in the middle of the freaking desert. "We can do anything" is the mindset. So, too, does that include coming to the city, working hard, and pursuing your own rewards from this diligence.
Curious to hear what people think.
"We have wrought sand into gold"
"For coin and country"
These are a few terms that illustrate Ul'dahn society's love for wealth, and I am interested in hearing people's interpretations of it and/or any lore references that seem to expand on it, as well as provide it with some depth.
I get the impression that some use their RL values on how they view Ul'dahn opulence, mostly because a good chunk of Western ethics tends to shun the lustrous pursuit of infinite wealth. But in defence of Ul'dah, I do not think the pursuit of wealth is done for the purposes of greed or hedonism. At least for my character, I/Kale interpret this "For coin!" mindset as meaning that wealth is the product of diligence and honest hard work.
Why is that? Because other than the royal family, there is no concept (or alternatively a lessened one) of inherited wealth in Ul'dah. Anyone, and absolutely anyone, can go from rags-to-riches. Raubahn, Roaille, so on. That is a massive point in Ul'dah's favour, especially in Raubahn's case. Right hand man of the sovereign and he isn't even from Ul'dah. This is different from Ishgard, where you are either born into the peasantry or born into the nobility, with no mobility worldstar! Or Gridania, where you are at the whims of the elementals. Your wealth is fought for. It's not simply given to you by virtue of birth.
It is from this that I believe that Ul'dah's love for coin equates to a love for hard work and earning your keep. Indeed, from "We have wrought sand into gold" shows a fierce pride in being able to set up Eorzea's wealthiest city in the middle of the freaking desert. "We can do anything" is the mindset. So, too, does that include coming to the city, working hard, and pursuing your own rewards from this diligence.
Curious to hear what people think.
