--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Modern man is frantically trying to earn…" description: "\"Modern man is frantically trying to earn enough to buy things he's too busy to enjoy.\" — Frank A. Clark" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/frank-a-clark-15848_busy_modern-man-is-frantically-trying-to-earn_118013.png" --- # Modern man is frantically trying to earn enough to buy… ![“Modern man is frantically trying to earn enough to buy things he's too busy to enjoy.” quote by Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/frank-a-clark-15848_busy_modern-man-is-frantically-trying-to-earn_118013.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/frank-a-clark-15848_busy_modern-man-is-frantically-trying-to-earn_118013.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/frank-a-clark-15848_busy_modern-man-is-frantically-trying-to-earn_118013.png) > “Modern man is frantically trying to earn enough to buy things he's too busy to enjoy.” [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People chase income to acquire goods, yet the relentless pursuit leaves little time to actually enjoy those possessions. **In simple terms:** Work‑driven consumption steals leisure. Key Takeaway The chase for material goods often eclipses the joy of using them. Themes consumerism time management stress materialism Mood reflective concerned Type social critique philosophical When to use this quote - corporate overtime - holiday shopping rush - gig‑economy hustle Key Concepts work‑life balance mindful consumption Practical Applications - Set boundaries on work hours - Prioritize experiences over possessions Questions to Reflect On - How can we redesign work to allow enjoyment? - What alternatives exist to material fulfillment? A Different Perspective Some may argue that effort is necessary for meaningful ownership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Modern man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-man/) ## Related quotes > [We please God most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/we-please-god-most-not-by-frantically-trying-to-make-ourselves-good/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [To me, the way I look at every spring training and every time I'm out there, I'm trying to earn a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-acuna-jr/to-me-the-way-i-look-at-every-spring-training-and-every-time-i-m-out/) [Ronald Acuna Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-acuna-jr/) > [I'm trying to earn a living in the way that is most enjoyable to me. I love the world of literature, and I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-trying-to-earn-a-living-in-the-way-that-is-most-enjoyable-to-me-i/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I didn't fully realize it then, but that was the thing I was most trying to earn playing baseball. Not money. Not glory... Love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pepitone/i-didn-t-fully-realize-it-then-but-that-was-the-thing-i-was-most/) Joe Pepitone > [That's my mentality. I'm trying to earn my job, keep my job, whatever it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-acuna-jr/that-s-my-mentality-i-m-trying-to-earn-my-job-keep-my-job-whatever-it/) [Ronald Acuna Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-acuna-jr/) > [The secret of my success is that I make other people money. And, never, ever, be ashamed about trying to earn as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/the-secret-of-my-success-is-that-i-make-other-people-money-and-never/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [It's hard to take a stand. Most people are just trying to earn a living, take care of their families, give their kids a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/it-s-hard-to-take-a-stand-most-people-are-just-trying-to-earn-a/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [“Money can buy many things, but nothing more valuable than your freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-collins/money-can-buy-many-things-but-nothing-more-valuable-than-your-freedom/) [J.L. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-collins/) > [The only good thing I've ever noticed about money, the only positive aspect of an otherwise pretty vulgar commodity, is that you can use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-laurie/the-only-good-thing-i-ve-ever-noticed-about-money-the-only-positive/) [Hugh Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-laurie/) > [The things you have that money won't buy are the things that will enable you to get more of the things that money will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-things-you-have-that-money-won-t-buy-are-the-things-that-will/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Sorry, Americans only buy things that come from suffering. They just enjoy it more when they know someones getting hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ck/sorry-americans-only-buy-things-that-come-from-suffering-they-just/) [Louis CK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ck/) > [“Too many people spend money they havenʼt earned, to buy things they donʼt want, to impress people they donʼt like." - Will Rogers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-babauta/too-many-people-spend-money-they-haven-t-earned-to-buy-things-they/) [Leo Babauta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-babauta/) > [The great thing about money is that people can use it to buy things they need instead of things self-appointed experts think they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-great-thing-about-money-is-that-people-can-use-it-to-buy-things/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Money can buy many things. Even power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-makarov/money-can-buy-many-things-even-power/) Vladimir Makarov > [From the money we do not have, we buy things we do not need to impress people we do not like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loesje/from-the-money-we-do-not-have-we-buy-things-we-do-not-need-to-impress/) [Loesje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loesje/) ## More by Frank A. Clark > [A leading authority is anyone who has guessed right more than once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/a-leading-authority-is-anyone-who-has-guessed-right-more-than-once/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [You can suffocate a thought by expressing it with too many words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/you-can-suffocate-a-thought-by-expressing-it-with-too-many-words/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/a-baby-is-born-with-a-need-to-be-loved-and-never-outgrows-it/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [The reason there's so much ignorance is that those who have it are so eager to share it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/the-reason-there-s-so-much-ignorance-is-that-those-who-have-it-are-so/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/if-you-find-a-path-with-no-obstacles-it-probably-doesn-t-lead-anywhere/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [A man's conscience, like a warning line on the highway, tells him what he shouldn't do - but it does not keep him from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/a-man-s-conscience-like-a-warning-line-on-the-highway-tells-him-what/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [We would be happier with what we have if we weren't so unhappy about what we don't' have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/we-would-be-happier-with-what-we-have-if-we-weren-t-so-unhappy-about/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [If you haven't time to help youngsters find the right way in life, somebody with more time will help them find the wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/if-you-haven-t-time-to-help-youngsters-find-the-right-way-in-life/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [The more you learn to live without, the more you'll have to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/the-more-you-learn-to-live-without-the-more-you-ll-have-to-live-with/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [You seldom come across anything more enjoyable than a happy person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/you-seldom-come-across-anything-more-enjoyable-than-a-happy-person/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [Maybe a person's time would be as well spent raising food as raising money to buy food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/maybe-a-person-s-time-would-be-as-well-spent-raising-food-as-raising/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [You may give gifts without caring, but you can't care without giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/you-may-give-gifts-without-caring-but-you-can-t-care-without-giving/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [It's better to recall something you wish you'd said than something you wish you hadn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/it-s-better-to-recall-something-you-wish-you-d-said-than-something/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [Our economy is based upon people wanting more; their happiness on wanting less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/our-economy-is-based-upon-people-wanting-more-their-happiness-on/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [Habit is something you can do without thinking, which is why most of us have so many of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/habit-is-something-you-can-do-without-thinking-which-is-why-most-of/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) [Explore all 41 Frank A. Clark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Modern man is frantically trying to earn enough to buy things he's too busy to enjoy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank A. 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