origins of capital

In his column, The Intelligent Investor, Jason Zweig writes:

[T]he word capital is derived from the Latin caput, or head. Wealth in ancient societies was measured in head of livestock, a mobile form of money.

Embedded deep in the word capital is the idea that it isn’t fixed or permanent; you must tend it, as good farmers tend their cattle. And you’d better use your head if you want to succeed at that.

The idea that a good steward of capital is on who tends to it resonated.