Happiness, whether consisting in pleasure or virtue, or both, is more often found with those who are highly cultivated in their minds and in their character, and have only a moderate share of external goods, than among those who possess external goods to a useless extent but are deficient in higher qualities.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Happiness favors those with cultivated minds and moderate wealth over the excessively rich and underdeveloped.
- In plain terms
- Happiness favors cultivated minds with moderate wealth.
- What can you take from it?
- Cultivate mind over chasing excessive external goods.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is moderate wealth enough for happiness?
- Can character compensate for poverty?
Another view
It oversimplifies how wealth enables higher pursuits.
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