“Money is something that should be circulated around the world and not enjoyed exclusively by one individual,” he said. “A lot of people think that earning a lot of money constitutes wealth. For me, working hard to earn a lot of money is certainly not a bad thing, but the happiness from earning a lot of money is fleeting because of the pain you feel when you lose it.”
“But if that money is used for good deeds, it’s wonderful to see people get back on their feet because of the help you’ve given. The happiness gained from doing a good deed always remains in your heart,” the tycoon said.
Chang also said that young people should depend less on their parents. They should fight for their future themselves and learn to shoulder responsibility.
Chang set up a foundation in 1985 with a focus on philanthropic efforts. Its assets are currently valued at about NT$13 billion and it spends about NT$400 million a month on charities and the free distribution of its Morals Monthly Digest.
Chang founded the magazine, which is distributed free of charge, in January 2008 in response to what he felt was the moral decline of Taiwanese society. The foundation originally planned for a circulation of 20,000 copies a month, but the monthly now boasts a circulation of 340,000 copies to readers in 31 countries.
When told that the publication’s circulation was outpacing its budget, Chang said he was not worried.
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