--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is indeed either a rich possession…" description: "\"Life is indeed either a rich possession or a poor, according as it is made subservient to noble aims or ignoble pleasures.\" — Christian Nestell Bovee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/christian-nestell-bovee-1003_aim_life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession_378404.png" --- # Life is indeed either a rich possession or a poor… ![“Life is indeed either a rich possession or a poor, according as it is made subservient to noble aims or ignoble pleasures.” quote by Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/christian-nestell-bovee-1003_aim_life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession_378404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/christian-nestell-bovee-1003_aim_life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession_378404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/christian-nestell-bovee-1003_aim_life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession_378404.png) > “Life is indeed either a rich possession or a poor, according as it is made subservient to noble aims or ignoble pleasures.” [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A life’s value depends on whether it serves noble goals or base pleasures, making possessions either enriching or degrading. **In simple terms:** Live for noble aims, not base pleasures. Key Takeaway Choose noble aims over base pleasures. Themes values purpose materialism ethics Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - philanthropy - minimalist lifestyle - education choices Key Concepts philosophy of virtue ethical living self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What defines a noble aim for you? - How do you balance material needs with higher goals? A Different Perspective Noble aims can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) ## Related quotes > [He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/he-is-rich-or-poor-according-to-what-he-is-not-according-to-what-he/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/no-man-can-tell-whether-he-is-rich-or-poor-by-turning-to-his-ledger-2/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Can a man be poor if he is free from want, if he does not covet the belongings of others, if he is rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-minucius-felix/can-a-man-be-poor-if-he-is-free-from-want-if-he-does-not-covet-the/) Marcus Minucius Felix > [Luxury either comes of riches or makes them necessary; it corrupts at once rich and poor, the rich by possession and the poor by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/luxury-either-comes-of-riches-or-makes-them-necessary-it-corrupts-at/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Luxury... corrupts at once rich and poor, the rich by possession and the poor by covetousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/luxury-corrupts-at-once-rich-and-poor-the-rich-by-possession-and-the/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [All any of us wanted, really, was to know that we counted. That someone else's life would not have been as rich without us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/all-any-of-us-wanted-really-was-to-know-that-we-counted-that-someone/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [As you grow older, your whole life becomes very rich, multifaceted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/as-you-grow-older-your-whole-life-becomes-very-rich-multifaceted/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [The accouterments of life were so rich and varied, so elaborated, that almost no place at all was left for life itself. Each and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/the-accouterments-of-life-were-so-rich-and-varied-so-elaborated-that/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-always-a-rich-and-steady-time-when-you-are-waiting-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is rich it's full of gifts-the more you have the more there is to share. You know its men with small souls who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-curott/life-is-rich-it-s-full-of-gifts-the-more-you-have-the-more-there-is/) [Phyllis Curott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-curott/) > [“The ascetic (zahid) is poor in this life, rich in the next. The Lover is poor in this life, poor in the next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/qushayri/the-ascetic-zahid-is-poor-in-this-life-rich-in-the-next-the-lover-is/) Qushayri > [I think we'd all like to believe that after we shuffle off this mortal coil, that there's going to be something on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-think-we-d-all-like-to-believe-that-after-we-shuffle-off-this/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [You have all played a significant part in my development of loving. As a result, my life has been rich and full, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/you-have-all-played-a-significant-part-in-my-development-of-loving-as/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [The life that goes out in love to all life is the life that is full, and rich, and continually expanding in beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-trine/the-life-that-goes-out-in-love-to-all-life-is-the-life-that-is-full/) [Ralph Waldo Trine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-trine/) > [“Whats the point of life if you're not rich XD”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-delgado/whats-the-point-of-life-if-you-re-not-rich-xd/) Kevin Delgado ## More by Christian Nestell Bovee > [What is taken from the fortune, also, may haply be so much lifted from the soul. The greatness of a loss, as the proverb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/what-is-taken-from-the-fortune-also-may-haply-be-so-much-lifted-from/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to be able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-next-best-thing-to-being-witty-one-s-self-is-to-be-able-to-be/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [There are some weaknesses that are peculiar and distinctive to generous characters, as freckles are to a fair skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-some-weaknesses-that-are-peculiar-and-distinctive-to/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [A genuine passion is like a mountain stream; it admits of no impediment; it cannot go backward; it must go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/a-genuine-passion-is-like-a-mountain-stream-it-admits-of-no/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Our courage is greater to dare a visible than an imagined danger. A visible danger rouses our energies to meet or avert it; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/our-courage-is-greater-to-dare-a-visible-than-an-imagined-danger-a/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [A good thought is indeed a great boon, for which God is to be first thanked; next he who is the first to utter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/a-good-thought-is-indeed-a-great-boon-for-which-god-is-to-be-first/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [We should not so much esteem our poverty as a misfortune, were it not that the world treats it so much as a crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/we-should-not-so-much-esteem-our-poverty-as-a-misfortune-were-it-not/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [He has but one great fear that fears to do wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/he-has-but-one-great-fear-that-fears-to-do-wrong/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Six traits of effective leaders: 1. Make others feel important 2. Promote a vision 3. Follow the golden rule 4. Admit mistakes 5. Criticize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/six-traits-of-effective-leaders-1-make-others-feel-important-2/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [In a contest with a weaker party it is more honorable to yield than to force concession. Magnanimity becomes the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/in-a-contest-with-a-weaker-party-it-is-more-honorable-to-yield-than/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Wit is better as a seasoning than as a whole dish by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/wit-is-better-as-a-seasoning-than-as-a-whole-dish-by-itself/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [To cultivate a garden is. . . to go hand in hand with Nature in some of her most beautiful processes, to learn something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/to-cultivate-a-garden-is-to-go-hand-in-hand-with-nature-in-some-of/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [It is with a company as it is with a punch, everything depends upon the ingredients of which it in composed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/it-is-with-a-company-as-it-is-with-a-punch-everything-depends-upon/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [It is not the number of facts he knows, but how much of a fact he is himself, that proves the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/it-is-not-the-number-of-facts-he-knows-but-how-much-of-a-fact-he-is/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) [Explore all 310 Christian Nestell Bovee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life is indeed either a rich possession or a poor, according as it is made subservient to noble aims or ignoble pleasures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Nestell Bovee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession-or-a-poor-according-as-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession-or-a-poor-according-as-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/christian-nestell-bovee-1003_aim_life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession_378404.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/christian-nestell-bovee-1003_aim_life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession_378404.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/christian-nestell-bovee-1003_aim_life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession_378404.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Life is indeed either a rich possession or a poor, according as it is made subservient to noble aims or…” — Christian Nestell Bovee", "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": "Christian Nestell Bovee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Life is indeed either a rich...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession-or-a-poor-according-as-it-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/life-is-indeed-either-a-rich-possession-or-a-poor-according-as-it-is/#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 } } ] } ```