--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a miser contents himself with giving…" description: "\"When a miser contents himself with giving nothing, and saving what he has got, and is in other respects guilty of no injustice, he is, perhaps, of all ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/claude-adrien-helvetius-19156_avarice_when-a-miser-contents-himself-with-givin_2373233.jpg" --- # When a miser contents himself with giving nothing, and… ![“When a miser contents himself with giving nothing, and saving what he has got, and is in other respects guilty of no injustice, he is, perhaps, of all bad men the least injurious to society; the evil he does is properly nothing more than the omission of the good he might do. If, of all the vices…” quote by Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/claude-adrien-helvetius-19156_avarice_when-a-miser-contents-himself-with-givin_2373233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/claude-adrien-helvetius-19156_avarice_when-a-miser-contents-himself-with-givin_2373233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/claude-adrien-helvetius-19156_avarice_when-a-miser-contents-himself-with-givin_2373233.jpg) > “When a miser contents himself with giving nothing, and saving what he has got, and is in other respects guilty of no injustice, he is, perhaps, of all bad men the least injurious to society; the evil he does is properly nothing more than the omission of the good he might do. If, of all the vices, avarice is the most generally detested, it is the effect of an avidity common to all men; it is because men hate those from whom they can expect nothing. The greedy misers rail at sordid misers.” [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A miser who only saves and does no harm still harms society by omitting good deeds; greed reflects a universal human avarice and resentment toward those who give nothing. **In simple terms:** Miserly inaction harms society by lacking good deeds. Key Takeaway Actively contribute good, not just avoid harm. Themes ethics greed social responsibility human nature Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - community service - charitable giving - policy making - education programs Key Concepts philosophy morality altruism Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn saving into giving? - What societal changes reduce greed? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑rooted avarice is difficult and may conflict with self‑interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Misers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misers/) [Omission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omission/) [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [Of all the vices, avarice is the most generally detested; it is the effect of an avidity common to all men; it is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/of-all-the-vices-avarice-is-the-most-generally-detested-it-is-the/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [God, how that stings! I've spent a lifetime loving science fiction and now I find that you must expect nothing of something that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/god-how-that-stings-i-ve-spent-a-lifetime-loving-science-fiction-and/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Human kindness has no reward. You should give to others in every way you see. expect absolutely nothing from anyone. It should be your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/human-kindness-has-no-reward-you-should-give-to-others-in-every-way/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I made up my mind that I would hold onto nothing, that I would expect nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-made-up-my-mind-that-i-would-hold-onto-nothing-that-i-would-expect/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/freedom-n-to-ask-nothing-to-expect-nothing-to-depend-on-nothing/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Mother,” Hyacinth said with a great show of solicitude, “you know I love you dearly—” “Why is it,” Violet pondered, “that I have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/mother-hyacinth-said-with-a-great-show-of-solicitude-you-know-i-love/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [We have to make the first move ourselves rather than expecting it to come from the phenomenal world or from other people. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-to-make-the-first-move-ourselves-rather-than-expecting-it-to/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Invest in yourself first. Expect nothing from no one and be willing to work for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/invest-in-yourself-first-expect-nothing-from-no-one-and-be-willing-to/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [When you give, expect nothing from people and everything from Allah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-suleiman/when-you-give-expect-nothing-from-people-and-everything-from-allah/) [Omar Suleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-suleiman/) > [If you choose to do something, do it with your utmost. And remember, expect nothing and life will be velvet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gardner/if-you-choose-to-do-something-do-it-with-your-utmost-and-remember/) [Lisa Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gardner/) > [Don't just show kindness in passing or to be courteous. Show it in depth, show it with passion, and expect nothing in return. Kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/don-t-just-show-kindness-in-passing-or-to-be-courteous-show-it-in/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“It is the reformer who is anxious for the reform, and not society, from which he should expect nothing better than opposition, abhorrence, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-is-the-reformer-who-is-anxious-for-the-reform-and-not-society-from/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Years ago I heard the Indian Jesuit Raimundo Panikkar say: Expect Nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-fagg/years-ago-i-heard-the-indian-jesuit-raimundo-panikkar-say-expect/) [Lawrence Fagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-fagg/) > [Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise. Become a stranger to need of pity. Or if compassion be freely given out, take only enough. Stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/expect-nothing-live-frugally-on-surprise-become-a-stranger-to-need-of/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Expect Nothing, Do Your Work, Celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-olitski/expect-nothing-do-your-work-celebrate/) [Jules Olitski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-olitski/) ## More by Claude Adrien Helvetius > [Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/every-man-without-passions-has-within-him-no-principle-of-action-nor/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [He who has no passion has no principal or motive to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/he-who-has-no-passion-has-no-principal-or-motive-to-act/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [Genius is nothing but continued attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/genius-is-nothing-but-continued-attention/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [A man who believes that he eats his God we do not call mad; yet, a man who says he is Jesus Christ, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/a-man-who-believes-that-he-eats-his-god-we-do-not-call-mad-yet-a-man/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [The men of sense, the idols of the shallow, are very inferior to the men of passions. It is the strong passions which, rescuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/the-men-of-sense-the-idols-of-the-shallow-are-very-inferior-to-the/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [To limit the press is to insult a nation; to prohibit reading of certain books is to declare the inhabitants to be either fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/to-limit-the-press-is-to-insult-a-nation-to-prohibit-reading-of/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [No nation has reason to regard itself superior to others by virtue of its innate endowment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/no-nation-has-reason-to-regard-itself-superior-to-others-by-virtue-of/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [The man who believes he can do it is probably right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/the-man-who-believes-he-can-do-it-is-probably-right/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [To be loved, we should merit but little esteem; all superiority attracts awe and aversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/to-be-loved-we-should-merit-but-little-esteem-all-superiority/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [The degree of genius necessary to please us is pretty nearly the same proportion that we ourselves have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/the-degree-of-genius-necessary-to-please-us-is-pretty-nearly-the-same/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [By annihilating the desires, you annihilate the mind. Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/by-annihilating-the-desires-you-annihilate-the-mind-every-man-without/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [Pleasure and pain are the only springs of action in man, and always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/pleasure-and-pain-are-the-only-springs-of-action-in-man-and-always/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [Harsh counsels have no effect; they are like hammers which are always repulsed by the anvil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/harsh-counsels-have-no-effect-they-are-like-hammers-which-are-always/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [Truth is a torch which gleams in the fog but does not dispel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/truth-is-a-torch-which-gleams-in-the-fog-but-does-not-dispel-it/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [Discipline is simply the art of making the soldiers fear their officers more than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/discipline-is-simply-the-art-of-making-the-soldiers-fear-their/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) [Explore all 33 Claude Adrien Helvetius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) ## More Avarice quotes > [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pcanet, and other powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/where-today-are-the-pequot-where-are-the-narragansett-the-mohican-the/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Where poverty ceases, avarice begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/where-poverty-ceases-avarice-begins/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/five-enemies-of-peace-inhabit-with-us-avarice-ambition-envy-anger-and/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > ['Maneater' is about N.Y.C. in the '80s. It's about greed, avarice, and spoiled riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/maneater-is-about-n-y-c-in-the-80s-it-s-about-greed-avarice-and/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Riches with their wicked inducements increase; nevertheless, avarice is never satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/riches-with-their-wicked-inducements-increase-nevertheless-avarice-is/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-virtue-is-banished-ambition-invades-the-minds-of-those-who-are/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the arms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-is-always-in-a-hurry-to-be-wealthy-and-immersed-in-the-study/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Goodness is weakness, pleasantness is poisonous, serenity is mediocrity and kindness is for losers. The best reason for committing loathsome and detestable acts –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/goodness-is-weakness-pleasantness-is-poisonous-serenity-is-mediocrity/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) [Browse all 318 Avarice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a miser contents himself with giving nothing, and saving what he has got, and is in other respects guilty of no injustice, he is, perhaps, of all bad men the least injurious to society; the evil he does is properly nothing more than the omission of the good he might do. If, of all the vices, avarice is the most generally detested, it is the effect of an avidity common to all men; it is because men hate those from whom they can expect nothing. 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