“Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.”
Explanation
In this quote, Benjamin Franklin offers a clear critique of materialism, asserting that money, by its nature, is incapable of providing true happiness. He states bluntly that wealth has never made anyone happy, and highlights the paradox that accumulating money often fuels greater desire, rather than contentment. This observation challenges the widespread belief that financial success leads to emotional fulfillment.
Franklin’s view reflects both Enlightenment skepticism toward superficial pleasures and a personal philosophy rooted in moderation, self-discipline, and virtue. Despite being a successful businessman and inventor, Franklin consistently emphasized that happiness arises from character, relationships, and purposeful living, not from wealth. His warning against insatiable desire reflects the timeless insight that greed is a trap, not a path to peace.
In the modern world—saturated with consumerism and equating success with wealth—this quote remains profoundly relevant. Many pursue money thinking it will bring satisfaction, only to find that the goalposts shift endlessly. Franklin reminds us that while money is a useful tool, its pursuit without wisdom leads to emptiness, and that lasting happiness is found in meaning, virtue, and simplicity, not in possessions.
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