JOHNSON
From your having practised the law long, Sir, I presume you must be rich.
EDWARDS
No, sir; I got a good deal of money; but I had a number of poor relations to whom I gave a great part of it.
JOHNSON
Sir, you have been rich in the most valuable sense of the word.
EDWARDS
But I shall not die rich.
JOHNSON
Nay, sure, Sir, it is better to live rich, than to die rich.

In this conversation, Dr. Samuel Johnson articulates a profound insight into the nature of wealth and generosity. When Oliver Edwards laments his inability to amass wealth due to supporting his less fortunate relatives, Johnson reframes the situation. He proposes that true richness lies not in accumulated wealth but in a life enriched by meaningful generosity. By declaring, "it is better to live rich, than to die rich," Johnson underscores the value of living a life where one's resources are used for the benefit of others rather than hoarded. This perspective challenges the conventional notion of success defined by financial legacy, suggesting instead that a fulfilling life is defined by the richness of one's actions and relationships.