“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
What this quote means
This quote by Seneca overturns our conception of poverty. True poverty is not a matter of material goods, but of state of mind. He who has little but is content is rich, while he who has much but desires more is poor. It invites us to cultivate contentment and free ourselves from greed, the source of permanent dissatisfaction. It is a call to voluntary simplicity and gratitude.
How to apply it daily
Today, list what you already own that brings you happiness. Become aware of your inner wealth and your achievements.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Seneca?
Our starting point
Reading one philosophical counsel a day
Letters from a Stoic
Each letter begins with a concrete situation—time, anger, death, friendship—and can be read on its own.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Reading time
- 8–12 hours for a selection
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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