--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People cleave to their worldly…" description: "\"People cleave to their worldly possessions and selfish passions so blindly as to sacrifice their own lives for them. They are like a child who tries to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/gautama-buddha-163_amount_people-cleave-to-their-worldly-possessio_2184949.jpg" --- # People cleave to their worldly possessions and selfish… ![“People cleave to their worldly possessions and selfish passions so blindly as to sacrifice their own lives for them. They are like a child who tries to eat a little, honey smeared on the edge of a knife. The amount is by no means sufficient to appease his appetite, but he runs the risk of wounding…” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/gautama-buddha-163_amount_people-cleave-to-their-worldly-possessio_2184949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/gautama-buddha-163_amount_people-cleave-to-their-worldly-possessio_2184949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/gautama-buddha-163_amount_people-cleave-to-their-worldly-possessio_2184949.jpg) > “People cleave to their worldly possessions and selfish passions so blindly as to sacrifice their own lives for them. They are like a child who tries to eat a little, honey smeared on the edge of a knife. The amount is by no means sufficient to appease his appetite, but he runs the risk of wounding his tongue.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attachment to material things and selfish desires leads to self‑destruction, like a child risking injury for a tiny taste of honey. **In simple terms:** Clinging to possessions harms life. Key Takeaway Avoid greed, seek inner peace. Themes attachment desire self‑destruction Mood reflective cautionary Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal finance - relationship counseling - spiritual practice - risk assessment Key Concepts Buddhist teaching impermanence mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What are you sacrificing for material gain? - How can you find fulfillment beyond possessions? A Different Perspective Material focus can provide temporary comfort but may blind one to lasting wellbeing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amount/) [Appease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appease/) [Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) [Blindly Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blindly-sacrifice-4734948/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edges/) [Honey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honey/) [Knives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knives/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Possessions Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions-selfish-4734949/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrifice Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-lives-300303/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-passions-425044/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly/) [Worldly possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly-possessions/) ## Related quotes > [Man liveth from hour to hour, and knoweth not what may happen; Influences circle him on all sides, and yet must he answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/man-liveth-from-hour-to-hour-and-knoweth-not-what-may-happen/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [The act of willingly subtracting from one's own limited store of the good and the agreeable for the sake of adding to that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-act-of-willingly-subtracting-from-one-s-own-limited-store-of-the/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Love is the most selfish of all the passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/love-is-the-most-selfish-of-all-the-passions/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“We're allowed to go on living happy, healthy lives because tens of thousands of animals like this chimp sacrifice their lives. 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