4 ms·

Sacrifice implies you lose something with nothing gained. These people generated wealth and got posterity and legacy. They bought that with their work, volition

Sacrifice implies you lose something with nothing gained. These people generated wealth and got posterity and legacy. They bought that with their work, volitionally, and bore the responsibility of the dedication required to keep it. You aren't sacrificing your money to buy yourself lunch, providing for your kids isn't a sacrifice, and you aren't sacrificing by working more hours to afford that big house and nice car you have. It's just hard sometimes, but it's all part of the bargain.

restalis 10y ago
"Sacrifice implies you lose something with nothing gained." Not true. That is just pure loss. According to its definition¹, "sacrifice" means either "to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else" or "to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit". Parents working hard in order to provide for their kids may involve something from both of the meanings. "you aren't sacrificing by working more hours to afford that big house and nice car you have" It depends on how you look at it, and working more hours for a nice house and car can be both a transaction and a sacrifice. If you consider the leisure time you have to give up (assuming that you don't particularly enjoy your work) then it's a sacrifice. If you consider the time and energy involved in the paid work then it's just a transaction. ¹ http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sacrifice http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sacrifice
f055 10y ago
Maybe sacrifice is not a perfect choice of words on my part, but what I mean is some parents chose to sacrifice consumer goods and instant pleasures so their kids could have it better in the future. You are correct that something is lost here and something is gained, but to be frank I have no other word that'd be close to what I mean.

4 ms·

Sacrifice implies you lose something with nothing gained. These people generated wealth and got posterity and legacy. They bought that with their work, volition

by washadjeffmad 10y ago

restalis 10y ago
"Sacrifice implies you lose something with nothing gained." Not true. That is just pure loss. According to its definition¹, "sacrifice" means either "to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else" or "to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit". Parents working hard in order to provide for their kids may involve something from both of the meanings. "you aren't sacrificing by working more hours to afford that big house and nice car you have" It depends on how you look at it, and working more hours for a nice house and car can be both a transaction and a sacrifice. If you consider the leisure time you have to give up (assuming that you don't particularly enjoy your work) then it's a sacrifice. If you consider the time and energy involved in the paid work then it's just a transaction. ¹ http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sacrifice http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sacrifice
f055 10y ago
Maybe sacrifice is not a perfect choice of words on my part, but what I mean is some parents chose to sacrifice consumer goods and instant pleasures so their kids could have it better in the future. You are correct that something is lost here and something is gained, but to be frank I have no other word that'd be close to what I mean.