--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Thales] was reproached for his poverty…" description: "\"“[Thales] was reproached for his poverty, which was supposed to show that philosophy is of no use. According to the story, he knew by his skill [in int..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/carl-sagan-160_harvest-time_thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-wh_1947574.jpg" --- # \[Thales\] was reproached for his poverty, which was… ![“[Thales] was reproached for his poverty, which was supposed to show that philosophy is of no use. According to the story, he knew by his skill [in interpreting the heavens] while it was yet winter that there would be a great harvest of olives in the coming year; so, having a little money, he gave…” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/carl-sagan-160_harvest-time_thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-wh_1947574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/carl-sagan-160_harvest-time_thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-wh_1947574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/carl-sagan-160_harvest-time_thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-wh_1947574.jpg) > ““\[Thales\] was reproached for his poverty, which was supposed to show that philosophy is of no use. According to the story, he knew by his skill \[in interpreting the heavens\] while it was yet winter that there would be a great harvest of olives in the coming year; so, having a little money, he gave deposits for the use of all the olive-presses in Chios and Miletus, which he hired at a low price because no one bid against him. When the harvest time came, and many were wanted all at once, he let them out at any rate which he pleased and made a quantity of money. Thus he showed the world philosophers can easily be rich if they like, but that their ambition is of another sort.”” [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thales demonstrates that practical skill and strategic investment can turn philosophical insight into wealth, challenging the notion that philosophy is useless. **In simple terms:** Philosophers can be wealthy by applying knowledge wisely. Key Takeaway Use knowledge to create value. Themes philosophy wealth practicality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type historical practical When to use this quote - investment - agricultural planning - resource management - career strategy Key Concepts economics ancient Greek history Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance material success with intellectual integrity? - What modern fields reflect this blend of theory and profit? A Different Perspective Wealth may distract from philosophical pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harvest time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvest-time/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [The world's philosophers and theologians searched for answers to the same mysteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-vaughn/the-world-s-philosophers-and-theologians-searched-for-answers-to-the/) [Robert Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-vaughn/) > [A 'philosophical dictionary' is not a dictionary of philosophy that you use to look up obscure thinkers or recondite terms. It is a collection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/a-philosophical-dictionary-is-not-a-dictionary-of-philosophy-that-you/) [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) > [“The race of prophets is extinct. Europe is becoming set in its ways, slowly embalming itself beneath the wrappings of its borders, its factories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/the-race-of-prophets-is-extinct-europe-is-becoming-set-in-its-ways-2/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [Why does philosophy use concepts and why does faith use symbols if both try to express the same ultimate? The answer, of course, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/why-does-philosophy-use-concepts-and-why-does-faith-use-symbols-if/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Even those who specialize in the history of philosophy often ignore the political and cultural context, and the natural world in which their philosophers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/even-those-who-specialize-in-the-history-of-philosophy-often-ignore/) [Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/) > [My philosophy is: there is no use of trying to be kind to those who are always rude to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/my-philosophy-is-there-is-no-use-of-trying-to-be-kind-to-those-who/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“Philosophy, as we use the word, is a fight against the fascination which forms of expression exert upon us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/philosophy-as-we-use-the-word-is-a-fight-against-the-fascination/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [I am not sure just what Marx had in mind when he wrote that "philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-am-not-sure-just-what-marx-had-in-mind-when-he-wrote-that/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [He thinks with regret of the great days when he could at harvest time at least go down into Hungary and work on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-reed/he-thinks-with-regret-of-the-great-days-when-he-could-at-harvest-time/) Douglas Reed > [“The problem is not the unhappiness and disappointment you feel at harvest time; the problem is the seeds you planted last spring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/the-problem-is-not-the-unhappiness-and-disappointment-you-feel-at/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [Its those lazy days And the hazy days And the days we get stoned for just days and days. Its amazing when we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kottonmouth-kings/its-those-lazy-days-and-the-hazy-days-and-the-days-we-get-stoned-for/) [Kottonmouth Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kottonmouth-kings/) > [“ample supply of water. In the Philippines, rice planting is a celebration. The soil is first prepared by the farmer and his carabao (KAH-RAH-BOW),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-alcuaz/ample-supply-of-water-in-the-philippines-rice-planting-is-a/) [N.T. Alcuaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-alcuaz/) > [“People who found something to live and die for always live in the hope of success. They never allow doubts to create distances between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/people-who-found-something-to-live-and-die-for-always-live-in-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) ## More by Carl Sagan > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Telepathy’ literally means to feel at a distance, just as ‘telephone’ is to hear at a distance and ‘television’ is to see at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/telepathy-literally-means-to-feel-at-a-distance-just-as-telephone-is/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“On the scale of worlds—to say nothing of stars or galaxies—humans are inconsequential, a thin film of life on an obscure and solitary lump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/on-the-scale-of-worlds-to-say-nothing-of-stars-or-galaxies-humans-are/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [In our time, we have sifted the sands of Mars, we have established a presence there, we have fulfilled a century of dreams!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/in-our-time-we-have-sifted-the-sands-of-mars-we-have-established-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ “\[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :\] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-about-fulfilled-prophecies-he/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Don't judge everyone else by your own limited experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/don-t-judge-everyone-else-by-your-own-limited-experience/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/books-permit-us-to-voyage-through-time-to-tap-the-wisdom-of-our/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We live on a hunk of rock and metal that circles a humdrum star that is one of 400 billion other stars that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-live-on-a-hunk-of-rock-and-metal-that-circles-a-humdrum-star-that/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [A tiny blue dot set in a sunbeam. Here it is. That's where we live. That's home. We humans are one species and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/a-tiny-blue-dot-set-in-a-sunbeam-here-it-is-that-s-where-we-live-that/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Any sufficiently crisp question can be answered by a single binary digit-0 or 1, yes or no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/any-sufficiently-crisp-question-can-be-answered-by-a-single-binary/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Humans — who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals — have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/humans-who-enslave-castrate-experiment-on-and-fillet-other-animals/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Every star may be a sun to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-star-may-be-a-sun-to-someone/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) [Explore all 1,043 Carl Sagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) ## More Harvest time quotes > [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“People who found something to live and die for always live in the hope of success. They never allow doubts to create distances between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/people-who-found-something-to-live-and-die-for-always-live-in-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“ample supply of water. In the Philippines, rice planting is a celebration. The soil is first prepared by the farmer and his carabao (KAH-RAH-BOW),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-alcuaz/ample-supply-of-water-in-the-philippines-rice-planting-is-a/) [N.T. Alcuaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-alcuaz/) > [Its those lazy days And the hazy days And the days we get stoned for just days and days. Its amazing when we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kottonmouth-kings/its-those-lazy-days-and-the-hazy-days-and-the-days-we-get-stoned-for/) [Kottonmouth Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kottonmouth-kings/) > [“The problem is not the unhappiness and disappointment you feel at harvest time; the problem is the seeds you planted last spring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/the-problem-is-not-the-unhappiness-and-disappointment-you-feel-at/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [He thinks with regret of the great days when he could at harvest time at least go down into Hungary and work on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-reed/he-thinks-with-regret-of-the-great-days-when-he-could-at-harvest-time/) Douglas Reed > [old pear tree starlings announce harvest time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-noble/old-pear-tree-starlings-announce-harvest-time/) Phil Noble > [“Keep expecting and believing that your due season is coming. Declare that the good you have harvested in your life will manifest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/keep-expecting-and-believing-that-your-due-season-is-coming-declare/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time.That is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-francis-adams-ii/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-that-is-when-we-must/) Charles Francis Adams II > [“which turn into grains. After harvest time, these grains are removed from the stalks by threshing them. They are then hulled in a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-alcuaz/which-turn-into-grains-after-harvest-time-these-grains-are-removed/) [N.T. Alcuaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-alcuaz/) > [The harvest moon has no innocence, like the slim quarter moon of a spring twilight, nor has it the silver penny brilliance of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-c-peattie/the-harvest-moon-has-no-innocence-like-the-slim-quarter-moon-of-a/) [Donald C. Peattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-c-peattie/) > [“Take the example of sugarcane farmers between harvests, a group Mr. Mullainathan and Mr. Shafir followed in subsequent research. He may not have much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-the-example-of-sugarcane-farmers-between-harvests-a-group-mr/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The year goes wrong, and tares grow strong, Hope starves without a crumb; But God's time is our harvest time, And that is sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-year-goes-wrong-and-tares-grow-strong-hope-starves-without-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In harvest time, harvest folk, servants and all Should make, all together, good cheer in the hall Once ended the harvest, let none be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/in-harvest-time-harvest-folk-servants-and-all-should-make-all/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) [Browse all 40 Harvest time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvest-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[Thales] was reproached for his poverty, which was supposed to show that philosophy is of no use. According to the story, he knew by his skill [in interpreting the heavens] while it was yet winter that there would be a great harvest of olives in the coming year; so, having a little money, he gave deposits for the use of all the olive-presses in Chios and Miletus, which he hired at a low price because no one bid against him. When the harvest time came, and many were wanted all at once, he let them out at any rate which he pleased and made a quantity of money. Thus he showed the world philosophers can easily be rich if they like, but that their ambition is of another sort.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carl Sagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-which-was-supposed-to-show-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harvest time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-which-was-supposed-to-show-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/carl-sagan-160_harvest-time_thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-wh_1947574.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/carl-sagan-160_harvest-time_thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-wh_1947574.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/carl-sagan-160_harvest-time_thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-wh_1947574.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[Thales] was reproached for his poverty, which was supposed to show that philosophy is of no use. According…” — Carl Sagan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carl Sagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“[Thales] was reproached for his poverty,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-which-was-supposed-to-show-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/thales-was-reproached-for-his-poverty-which-was-supposed-to-show-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```