Fortunes are made, and disappear, over the lifetime of a single generation. Today, a person in essence takes his wealth from society just for the duration of his or her lifetime. The next generation has to create it anew.
Meaning of the quote
Wealth can come and go very quickly, often within one person's lifetime. A person today may become rich, but their wealth doesn't last forever. When they die, the next generation has to work hard to build their own wealth from scratch. The money and possessions of the previous generation don't automatically pass down - the new generation has to create their own fortune.
About Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Mikhail Khodorkovsky is a prominent Russian businessman and opposition activist who was once the wealthiest person in Russia. He was arrested in 2003, charged with fraud, and spent over a decade in prison before being pardoned by Putin in 2013. Since then, Khodorkovsky has continued to be a vocal critic of the Kremlin from his base in London.
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This demonstration of power, indifferent to the law, is highly dangerous.
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