--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are only two kinds of people in the…" description: "\"There are only two kinds of people in the world that really count. One kind's wheat and the other kind's emeralds.\" — Edna Ferber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/958/edna-ferber-3893_emeralds_there-are-only-two-kinds-of-people-in-th_1357745.png" --- # There are only two kinds of people in the world that… ![“There are only two kinds of people in the world that really count. One kind's wheat and the other kind's emeralds.” quote by Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/958/edna-ferber-3893_emeralds_there-are-only-two-kinds-of-people-in-th_1357745.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/958/edna-ferber-3893_emeralds_there-are-only-two-kinds-of-people-in-th_1357745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/958/edna-ferber-3893_emeralds_there-are-only-two-kinds-of-people-in-th_1357745.png) > “There are only two kinds of people in the world that really count. One kind's wheat and the other kind's emeralds.” [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only those who produce valuable resources—like wheat or emeralds—truly matter in society. **In simple terms:** Value lies in productive people. Key Takeaway Recognize productive contributions. Themes economics value society Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - business - agriculture - gem mining - social status Key Concepts resource theory human capital Questions to Reflect On - What defines true worth? - Can non‑productive roles be vital? A Different Perspective Value can be measured beyond material output. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Mid the sharp, short emerald wheat, scarce risen three fingers well, The wild tulip at the end of its tube, blows out its great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/mid-the-sharp-short-emerald-wheat-scarce-risen-three-fingers-well-the/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [Still, I look down, and the grass is so green, I cannot understand how it does not wither and die with sorrow. But against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ann-sandell/still-i-look-down-and-the-grass-is-so-green-i-cannot-understand-how/) [Lisa Ann Sandell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ann-sandell/) > [The field was even greener than my boy's mind had pictured it. In later years, friends of ours visited Ireland and said the grass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-snider/the-field-was-even-greener-than-my-boy-s-mind-had-pictured-it-in/) [Duke Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-snider/) > [There is this cave In the air behind my body That nobody is going to touch: A cloister, a silence Closing around a blossom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wright/there-is-this-cave-in-the-air-behind-my-body-that-nobody-is-going-to/) [James Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wright/) > [Liesel crossed the bridge over the Amper River. The water was glorious and emerald and rich. She could see the stones at the bottom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-crossed-the-bridge-over-the-amper-river-the-water-was-glorious/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“There are no tough times, hard knocks, or challenges that aren't laden with emeralds, rubies, and diamonds for those who see them through. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dooley/there-are-no-tough-times-hard-knocks-or-challenges-that-aren-t-laden/) [Mike Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dooley/) > [The Mask "Put off that mask of burning gold With emerald eyes." "O no, my dear, you make so bold To find if hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-mask-put-off-that-mask-of-burning-gold-with-emerald-eyes-o-no-my/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“She was partial to emeralds; she said they were the single thing that remained constant, always green, always the same...My mother had been right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/she-was-partial-to-emeralds-she-said-they-were-the-single-thing-that/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Patience is like the most precious gemstone. Who can have it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-a-yowetu/patience-is-like-the-most-precious-gemstone-who-can-have-it/) Isaac A. Yowetu > [The bed of flowers Loosens amain, The beauteous snowdrops Droop o'er the plain. The crocus opens Its glowing bud, Like emeralds others, Others, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-bed-of-flowers-loosens-amain-the-beauteous-snowdrops-droop-o-er/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [At last he came to a door, with these words in glowing emeralds: THE END OF THE WORLD He did not hesitate. He opened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/at-last-he-came-to-a-door-with-these-words-in-glowing-emeralds-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [My people have been wearing green glasses on their eyes for so long that most of them think this really is an Emerald City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/my-people-have-been-wearing-green-glasses-on-their-eyes-for-so-long/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [And beyond the timeless meadows and emerald pastures, the rabbit holes and moss-covered oak and rowan trees and the "slippy sloppy" houses of frogs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-branch/and-beyond-the-timeless-meadows-and-emerald-pastures-the-rabbit-holes/) [Susan Branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-branch/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I love San Francisco so much. I call it the Emerald City and have been coming here since 1992. I have a few old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-love-san-francisco-so-much-i-call-it-the-emerald-city-and-have-been/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) ## More by Edna Ferber > [People in big empty places are likely to behave very much as the gods did on Olympus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/people-in-big-empty-places-are-likely-to-behave-very-much-as-the-gods/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [Housework's the hardest work in the world. That's why men won't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/housework-s-the-hardest-work-in-the-world-that-s-why-men-won-t-do-it/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [It was part of theTexas ritual? We know about champagne and caviar but we talk hog and hominy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/it-was-part-of-thetexas-ritual-we-know-about-champagne-and-caviar-but/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [It's terrible to realize that you don't learn how to live until you're ready to die; and, then it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/it-s-terrible-to-realize-that-you-don-t-learn-how-to-live-until-you/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [The goat's business is none of the sheep's concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/the-goat-s-business-is-none-of-the-sheep-s-concern/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [I sometimes wonder ... if the land is not destroying the people who inhabit it as the people who inhabit it are destroying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/i-sometimes-wonder-if-the-land-is-not-destroying-the-people-who/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [All the difference in the world between the movies and the thrill I get out of a play at the theater. Ay, yes! Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-movies-and-the-thrill-i/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [It's difficult to write a really good short story because it must be a complete and finished reflection of life with only a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/it-s-difficult-to-write-a-really-good-short-story-because-it-must-be/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [Now gae your wa'sTho'anes as gude As ever happit flesh and blude, Yet part we maunthe case sae hard is, Amang the writers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/now-gae-your-wa-stho-anes-as-gude-as-ever-happit-flesh-and-blude-yet/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [But I have felt that to be a Jew was, in some ways at least, to be especially privileged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/but-i-have-felt-that-to-be-a-jew-was-in-some-ways-at-least-to-be/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [I think in order to write really well and convincingly, one must be somewhat poisoned by emotion, dislike, displeasure, resentment, fault-finding, imagination, passionate remonstrance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/i-think-in-order-to-write-really-well-and-convincingly-one-must-be/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [“Then there were long, lazy summer afternoons when there was nothing to do but read. And dream. And watch the town go by to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/then-there-were-long-lazy-summer-afternoons-when-there-was-nothing-to/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [A woman can look both moral and exciting... if she also looks as if it was quite a struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/a-woman-can-look-both-moral-and-exciting-if-she-also-looks-as-if-it/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [Funny, isn't it, how your whole life goes by while you think you're only planning the way you're going to live it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/funny-isn-t-it-how-your-whole-life-goes-by-while-you-think-you-re/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [There's no sauce for play like work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/there-s-no-sauce-for-play-like-work/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) [Explore all 120 Edna Ferber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) ## More Emeralds quotes > [I love San Francisco so much. I call it the Emerald City and have been coming here since 1992. I have a few old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-love-san-francisco-so-much-i-call-it-the-emerald-city-and-have-been/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And beyond the timeless meadows and emerald pastures, the rabbit holes and moss-covered oak and rowan trees and the "slippy sloppy" houses of frogs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-branch/and-beyond-the-timeless-meadows-and-emerald-pastures-the-rabbit-holes/) [Susan Branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-branch/) > [My people have been wearing green glasses on their eyes for so long that most of them think this really is an Emerald City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/my-people-have-been-wearing-green-glasses-on-their-eyes-for-so-long/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [At last he came to a door, with these words in glowing emeralds: THE END OF THE WORLD He did not hesitate. He opened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/at-last-he-came-to-a-door-with-these-words-in-glowing-emeralds-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The bed of flowers Loosens amain, The beauteous snowdrops Droop o'er the plain. The crocus opens Its glowing bud, Like emeralds others, Others, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-bed-of-flowers-loosens-amain-the-beauteous-snowdrops-droop-o-er/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Patience is like the most precious gemstone. Who can have it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-a-yowetu/patience-is-like-the-most-precious-gemstone-who-can-have-it/) Isaac A. Yowetu > [“She was partial to emeralds; she said they were the single thing that remained constant, always green, always the same...My mother had been right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/she-was-partial-to-emeralds-she-said-they-were-the-single-thing-that/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [The Mask "Put off that mask of burning gold With emerald eyes." "O no, my dear, you make so bold To find if hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-mask-put-off-that-mask-of-burning-gold-with-emerald-eyes-o-no-my/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“There are no tough times, hard knocks, or challenges that aren't laden with emeralds, rubies, and diamonds for those who see them through. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dooley/there-are-no-tough-times-hard-knocks-or-challenges-that-aren-t-laden/) [Mike Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dooley/) > [Liesel crossed the bridge over the Amper River. The water was glorious and emerald and rich. She could see the stones at the bottom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-crossed-the-bridge-over-the-amper-river-the-water-was-glorious/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [There is this cave In the air behind my body That nobody is going to touch: A cloister, a silence Closing around a blossom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wright/there-is-this-cave-in-the-air-behind-my-body-that-nobody-is-going-to/) [James Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wright/) > [The field was even greener than my boy's mind had pictured it. In later years, friends of ours visited Ireland and said the grass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-snider/the-field-was-even-greener-than-my-boy-s-mind-had-pictured-it-in/) [Duke Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-snider/) > [Still, I look down, and the grass is so green, I cannot understand how it does not wither and die with sorrow. But against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ann-sandell/still-i-look-down-and-the-grass-is-so-green-i-cannot-understand-how/) [Lisa Ann Sandell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ann-sandell/) > [I climbed a path and from the top looked up-stream towards Chile. I could see the river, glinting and sliding through the bone-white cliffs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/i-climbed-a-path-and-from-the-top-looked-up-stream-towards-chile-i/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) Browse all 80 Emeralds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are only two kinds of people in the world that really count. 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