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About this quote

What does it mean?
Socrates declares that true wealth is contentment with little, as nature provides wealth through content.
In plain terms
Being satisfied with little is the richest state.
What can you take from it?
Find wealth in contentment, not material excess.

Where it applies

  • minimalist living
  • financial planning
  • spiritual practice

Putting it to work

  • practice gratitude
  • reduce unnecessary possessions

Questions to consider

  • How can you cultivate contentment?
  • What does 'wealth' mean to you?

Another view

Contentment may be hard to achieve in modern consumer societies.

More from Socrates

  1. Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love.

    Permalink to quote #49
  2. He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

    Permalink to quote #51
  3. From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.

    Permalink to quote #48

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  3. Quod siquis vera vitam ratione gubernet, divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parvo aequo animo; neque enim est umquam penuria parvi.

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