“The wise man is not attracted to wealth, but he does not reject it either.”
What this quote means
Seneca advocates a serene indifference toward wealth. The wise person doesn't actively seek it, but doesn't reject it either; they accept it if it comes, without tying their happiness to it. This quote frees us from the materialistic race while avoiding the pitfall of voluntary poverty out of pride. It resonates in a society where money often causes anxiety or judgment. It applies when we are tempted to measure our worth by our bank account or, conversely, to demonize wealth.
How to apply it daily
Today, examine your relationship with money: if you gain or lose some, notice if your sense of self-worth changes. Refocus on your inner qualities.
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.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.”Create visual
“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”Create visual
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”Create visual
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”Create visual
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”Create visual
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”Create visual
More quotes by Seneca
“Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.”Create visual
“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”Create visual
“Every night before going to sleep, we must ask ourselves: what weakness did I overcome today? What virtue did I acquire?”Create visual
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.”Create visual