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Worth vs Price
3 years ago
Once upon a time...
One of the greatest linguistic tricks was making worth and price near-synonyms when they are basically antonyms in essence. If you question this, just try worthless and priceless. Not synonyms, eh? So why should their base forms be nearly so?
People generally don't think too much of asking how much something is worth when what they mean is how much something costs. This is a difference along the lines of "can" and "may" which, while pedantic on occasion, is a reason to pay attention. The instant the conflation begins people start forgetting there's a fundamental difference between the two.
Price is simple cost. It is an arbitrary amount placed on something to indicate trade value.
Worth is intrinsic value. This cannot be measured, generally, though it can be questioned.
People have worth. The hardest thing in the world, sometimes, is convincing someone of their worth. Of the value of just them being around. This is because they will compare themselves to folks who have "made it" -- to folks that have fortune or fame.
People should never have price. That's slavery.
People generally don't think too much of asking how much something is worth when what they mean is how much something costs. This is a difference along the lines of "can" and "may" which, while pedantic on occasion, is a reason to pay attention. The instant the conflation begins people start forgetting there's a fundamental difference between the two.
Price is simple cost. It is an arbitrary amount placed on something to indicate trade value.
Worth is intrinsic value. This cannot be measured, generally, though it can be questioned.
People have worth. The hardest thing in the world, sometimes, is convincing someone of their worth. Of the value of just them being around. This is because they will compare themselves to folks who have "made it" -- to folks that have fortune or fame.
People should never have price. That's slavery.
But you're right, people do conflate worth and price when they shouldn't. Two different artists might price themselves differently, but they both have the same worth, as much worth as the richest businessman, and as the most drugged-out bum. All have equal worth in the eyes of God.