--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would be too ridiculous to go about…" description: "\"It would be too ridiculous to go about seriously to prove that wealth does not consist in money, or in gold and silver; but in what money purchases, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/adam-smith-1040_doe_it-would-be-too-ridiculous-to-go-about-s_2439494.jpg" --- # It would be too ridiculous to go about seriously to prove… ![“It would be too ridiculous to go about seriously to prove that wealth does not consist in money, or in gold and silver; but in what money purchases, and is valuable only for purchasing. Money no doubt, makes always a part of the national capital; but it has already been shown that it generally…” quote by Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/adam-smith-1040_doe_it-would-be-too-ridiculous-to-go-about-s_2439494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/adam-smith-1040_doe_it-would-be-too-ridiculous-to-go-about-s_2439494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/adam-smith-1040_doe_it-would-be-too-ridiculous-to-go-about-s_2439494.jpg) > “It would be too ridiculous to go about seriously to prove that wealth does not consist in money, or in gold and silver; but in what money purchases, and is valuable only for purchasing. Money no doubt, makes always a part of the national capital; but it has already been shown that it generally makes but a small part, and always the most unprofitable part of it.” [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth is not measured by money or precious metals, but by the usefulness of what money can acquire. **In simple terms:** Wealth is about what money can buy, not money itself. Key Takeaway Focus on the value of goods and services over mere currency. Themes economics value wealth money utility Mood analytical thought‑provoking Type philosophical economic When to use this quote - business decisions - personal budgeting - public policy - investment strategies Key Concepts utility theory economic value materialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess true wealth in your life? - What non‑monetary assets matter most to you? A Different Perspective Money alone does not guarantee overall prosperity or happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold and silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-and-silver/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-doubt-475959/) [Money Purchases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-purchases-475960/) [No doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-doubt/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Prove Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove-wealth-475957/) [Purchasing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchasing/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) [Small parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-parts/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-does-475958/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [The importation of gold and silver is not the principal, much less the sole benefit which a nation derives from its foreign trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-importation-of-gold-and-silver-is-not-the-principal-much-less-the/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Wealth does not consist of having a lot of money or possessions, but to be content with little needs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-jansen-easy-branches/wealth-does-not-consist-of-having-a-lot-of-money-or-possessions-but/) [Jan Jansen Easy Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-jansen-easy-branches/) > [“The worst thing wealth does is give those who have it a false sense of security.” Piers chuckled as he moved on to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-e-carter/the-worst-thing-wealth-does-is-give-those-who-have-it-a-false-sense/) [Rachel E. 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Success for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-asher/satisfaction-for-us-is-only-a-brief-thing-the-man-who-acquires-wealth/) [Neal Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-asher/) > [The more a man desirous to pass at a value above his worth can contrast, by dignified silence, the garrulity of trivial minds, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-more-a-man-desirous-to-pass-at-a-value-above-his-worth-can/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [“Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else good for men, both individually and collectively.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/wealth-does-not-bring-about-excellence-but-excellence-makes-wealth/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## More by Adam Smith > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“The effects of the division of labour, in the general business of society, will be more easily understood by considering in what manner it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-effects-of-the-division-of-labour-in-the-general-business-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Defense is superior to opulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/defense-is-superior-to-opulence/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“There is a great deal of ruin in a nation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/there-is-a-great-deal-of-ruin-in-a-nation/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“The profligacy of a man of fashion is looked upon with much less contempt and aversion, than that of a man of meaner condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-profligacy-of-a-man-of-fashion-is-looked-upon-with-much-less/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/great-ambition-the-desire-of-real-superiority-of-leading-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/people-of-the-same-trade-seldom-meet-together-even-for-merriment-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/how-selfish-soever-man-may-be-supposed-there-are-evidently-some/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [The liberal reward of labour, therefore, as it is the affect of increasing wealth, so it is the cause of increasing population. To complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-liberal-reward-of-labour-therefore-as-it-is-the-affect-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [A sketch of a man facing to the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-sketch-of-a-man-facing-to-the-right/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/what-can-be-added-to-the-happiness-of-a-man-who-is-in-health-out-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/it-is-not-from-the-benevolence-of-the-butcher-the-brewer-or-the-baker/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [When we have read a book or poem so often that we can no longer find any amusement in reading it by ourselves, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/when-we-have-read-a-book-or-poem-so-often-that-we-can-no-longer-find/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/we-are-but-one-of-the-multitude-in-no-respect-better-than-any-other/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) [Explore all 267 Adam Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. 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The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. 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