---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the philosophers despised riches, it…"
description: "\"When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by v..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_despised_when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it_2978771.png"
---

#  When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they…

![“When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by vilifying those enjoyments which she had not given them.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_despised_when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it_2978771.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_despised_when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it_2978771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_despised_when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it_2978771.png)

> “When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by vilifying those enjoyments which she had not given them.”

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## About This Quote

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

Philosophers denounce wealth to protect their self‑esteem and retaliate against perceived unfairness of fate.

**In simple terms:** They criticize riches to defend their own merit.

Key Takeaway

Beware of using moral judgments to mask personal insecurity.

Themes

pride merit wealth injustice self‑image

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

- academic debate
- personal reflection
- ethical discussions

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology social critique

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we judge others' success?
- How does self‑worth affect our view of wealth?

A Different Perspective

Criticism may ignore systemic inequality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Despised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despised/) [Despised Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despised-riches-4622598/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Vindicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-vindicate-4622599/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophers Despised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers-despised-4622597/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Revenge Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge-injustice-2025138/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

## Related quotes

> [“God, if I die tomorrow, please send me to hell. If by some mistake, I land up in heaven…if I get a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-k-pandey/god-if-i-die-tomorrow-please-send-me-to-hell-if-by-some-mistake-i/)

[Ajay K. Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajay-k-pandey/)

> [Those only are despicable who fear to be despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/those-only-are-despicable-who-fear-to-be-despised/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Many men are contemptuous of riches; few can give them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/many-men-are-contemptuous-of-riches-few-can-give-them-away/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [I like to give a voice to others, especially things neglected or despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-morgan/i-like-to-give-a-voice-to-others-especially-things-neglected-or/)

[Edwin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-morgan/)

> [“For immediately in the beginning, after his original life of blessedness, the first man despised the command of God, and fell into this mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eusebius-of-caesarea/for-immediately-in-the-beginning-after-his-original-life-of/)

[Eusebius of Caesarea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eusebius-of-caesarea/)

> [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/)

[Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/)

> [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn't be ashamed of it. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-poverty-is-no-crime-no-if-it-were-men/)

[Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/)

> [I'd rather be despised for my character than be liked for my lack of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-be-despised-for-my-character-than-be-liked-for-my-lack-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-the-evangelist/unless-a-man-gives-himself-entirely-to-the-cross-in-a-spirit-of/)

[Mark the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-the-evangelist/)

> [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [At a time when painting itself often seems to be a threatened, even despised, form of artistic activity, Andrew Salgado emerges as a dazzlingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lucie-smith/at-a-time-when-painting-itself-often-seems-to-be-a-threatened-even/)

[Edward Lucie-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lucie-smith/)

> [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [“He had despised that Mary with her idiot smile, symbol of a story that meant nothing, servant of a God who no good to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/he-had-despised-that-mary-with-her-idiot-smile-symbol-of-a-story-that/)

[Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/)

> [You are still despised and mocked, A man too weak and infirm to be God, A God too much man to call forth adoration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil/you-are-still-despised-and-mocked-a-man-too-weak-and-infirm-to-be-god/)

[Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil/)

> [He lacked tenderness; he was rude; and he had more than a streak of cruelty in him; he was a thief and a liar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/he-lacked-tenderness-he-was-rude-and-he-had-more-than-a-streak-of/)

[Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/)

## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/)

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

[Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More Despised quotes

> [He lacked tenderness; he was rude; and he had more than a streak of cruelty in him; he was a thief and a liar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/he-lacked-tenderness-he-was-rude-and-he-had-more-than-a-streak-of/)

[Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/)

> [You are still despised and mocked, A man too weak and infirm to be God, A God too much man to call forth adoration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil/you-are-still-despised-and-mocked-a-man-too-weak-and-infirm-to-be-god/)

[Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil/)

> [“He had despised that Mary with her idiot smile, symbol of a story that meant nothing, servant of a God who no good to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/he-had-despised-that-mary-with-her-idiot-smile-symbol-of-a-story-that/)

[Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/)

> [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [At a time when painting itself often seems to be a threatened, even despised, form of artistic activity, Andrew Salgado emerges as a dazzlingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lucie-smith/at-a-time-when-painting-itself-often-seems-to-be-a-threatened-even/)

[Edward Lucie-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lucie-smith/)

> [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-the-evangelist/unless-a-man-gives-himself-entirely-to-the-cross-in-a-spirit-of/)

[Mark the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-the-evangelist/)

> [I'd rather be despised for my character than be liked for my lack of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-be-despised-for-my-character-than-be-liked-for-my-lack-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn't be ashamed of it. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-poverty-is-no-crime-no-if-it-were-men/)

[Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/)

> [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/)

[Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/)

> [“For immediately in the beginning, after his original life of blessedness, the first man despised the command of God, and fell into this mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eusebius-of-caesarea/for-immediately-in-the-beginning-after-his-original-life-of/)

[Eusebius of Caesarea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eusebius-of-caesarea/)

> [I like to give a voice to others, especially things neglected or despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-morgan/i-like-to-give-a-voice-to-others-especially-things-neglected-or/)

[Edwin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-morgan/)

> [Which was worse: a friend with brain damage, or one who despised you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/which-was-worse-a-friend-with-brain-damage-or-one-who-despised-you/)

[Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/)

> [The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/the-native-american-has-been-generally-despised-by-his-white/)

[Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/)

> [“What is believed in one man's time, is despised in another man's day. To be sure, there will even be revulsion in some future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-o-shea/what-is-believed-in-one-man-s-time-is-despised-in-another-man-s-day/)

[Pat O'Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-o-shea/)

[Browse all 319 Despised quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despised/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by vilifying those enjoyments which she had not given them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it-was-because-they-had-a-mind/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Despised"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it-was-because-they-had-a-mind/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_despised_when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it_2978771.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_despised_when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it_2978771.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_despised_when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it_2978771.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take…” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld",
                "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": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When the philosophers despised riches, it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it-was-because-they-had-a-mind/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/when-the-philosophers-despised-riches-it-was-because-they-had-a-mind/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```