“For greed all nature is too little.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“For greed all nature is too little.”
Explanation
Greed knows no bounds—no matter how much is given, it always wants more. Seneca the Younger reveals the insatiable nature of unchecked desire, noting that even the vast abundance of nature cannot satisfy a greedy soul. What is enough for survival and happiness is never enough for the person consumed by wanting.
This is a classic Stoic teaching: true contentment comes not from possessing more, but from desiring less. Greed is irrational because it seeks endless acquisition, ignoring the fact that peace and fulfillment lie in sufficiency, not excess. Seneca warns that a person ruled by greed will never be rich in spirit, no matter how much they own, for they are always hungry, always chasing, never still.
In our modern age of consumerism, constant upgrading, and material competition, this quote remains profoundly relevant. No lifestyle, income, or possession will satisfy the person who believes they need more to be happy. Seneca’s wisdom reminds us that learning to live within limits—and to find joy in simplicity—is the only true antidote to the misery of greed.
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