---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I regard large inherited wealth as a…"
description: "\"I regard large inherited wealth as a misfortune, which merely serves to dull men's faculties. A man who possesses great wealth should, therefore, allow..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/alfred-nobel-17134_capacity_i-regard-large-inherited-wealth-as-a-mis_1309154.png"
---

#  I regard large inherited wealth as a misfortune, which…

![“I regard large inherited wealth as a misfortune, which merely serves to dull men's faculties. A man who possesses great wealth should, therefore, allow only a small portion to descend to his relatives. Even if he has children, I consider it a mistake to hand over to them considerable sums of money…” quote by Alfred Nobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/alfred-nobel-17134_capacity_i-regard-large-inherited-wealth-as-a-mis_1309154.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/alfred-nobel-17134_capacity_i-regard-large-inherited-wealth-as-a-mis_1309154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/alfred-nobel-17134_capacity_i-regard-large-inherited-wealth-as-a-mis_1309154.png)

> “I regard large inherited wealth as a misfortune, which merely serves to dull men's faculties. A man who possesses great wealth should, therefore, allow only a small portion to descend to his relatives. Even if he has children, I consider it a mistake to hand over to them considerable sums of money beyond what is necessary for their education. To do so merely encourages laziness and impedes the healthy development of the individual's capacity to make an independent position for himself.”

[Alfred Nobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-nobel/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Wealth can impair judgment and independence; modest inheritance encourages self‑reliance and personal growth.

**In simple terms:** Too much money hinders development.

Key Takeaway

Give only enough for education.

Themes

responsibility wealth self‑reliance education inheritance

Mood

reflective critical thoughtful

Type

ethical philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- family financial planning
- philanthropic foundations
- educational scholarships
- entrepreneurial mentorship

Key Concepts

philosophy of wealth social ethics personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- How does wealth affect personal ambition?
- What limits should be set on family inheritance?

A Different Perspective

Large inheritances may foster dependency and reduce motivation.

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[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Inherited wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherited-wealth/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

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