---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have multiplied our possessions, but…"
description: "\"We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.\" — George Carlin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/george-carlin-155_inspirational_we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-r_2701487.jpg"
---

#  We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

![“We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/george-carlin-155_inspirational_we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-r_2701487.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/george-carlin-155_inspirational_we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-r_2701487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/george-carlin-155_inspirational_we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-r_2701487.jpg)

> “We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.”

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

## About This Quote

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

Carlin points out that material accumulation grows while ethical standards shrink.

**In simple terms:** More stuff, fewer values.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize values over possessions.

Themes

consumerism values materialism

Mood

ironic thought‑provoking

Type

social observational

When to use this quote

- personal budgeting
- corporate ethics
- environmental policy
- education curricula

Key Concepts

sociology psychology economics

Questions to Reflect On

- What values have you sacrificed for possessions?
- Can wealth ever enhance moral standards?

A Different Perspective

He may ignore that some values evolve positively with wealth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/)

## Related quotes

> [We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-reduced-our-values-we-talk-too/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

> [We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/we-talk-too-much-love-too-seldom-and-hate-too-often/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Is that what relationships become? A reduced version of the hurt, nothing else let in. It was more than that. I know it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/is-that-what-relationships-become-a-reduced-version-of-the-hurt/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [Unfortunately, science cannot be reduced to short, catchy phrases. And if this is all that the general public can comprehend, it's no wonder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/unfortunately-science-cannot-be-reduced-to-short-catchy-phrases-and/)

[Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/)

> [I've been reduced to drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-everett/i-ve-been-reduced-to-drag/)

[Rupert Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-everett/)

> [Everything is on a reduced scale here in the Polar regions; we can't afford to be extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-amundsen/everything-is-on-a-reduced-scale-here-in-the-polar-regions-we-can-t/)

[Roald Amundsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-amundsen/)

> [The two largest oil-producing countries in Latin America, Mexico and Venezuela, sold petroleum to Nicaragua at concessional rates for several years beginning in 1980.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/the-two-largest-oil-producing-countries-in-latin-america-mexico-and/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Living in truth cannot be reduced to having access to full information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/living-in-truth-cannot-be-reduced-to-having-access-to-full-information/)

[Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/)

> [You may not control all of the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-may-not-control-all-of-the-events-that-happen-to-you-but-you-can/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Reducing caloric intake is the only proven method of extending life. If caloric intake is reduced to 20 percent below maintenance, you can extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/reducing-caloric-intake-is-the-only-proven-method-of-extending-life/)

[S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/)

> [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/)

[David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/)

> [Probably the only type of cosmetic surgery I'd consider is having my bust reduced. It's alright for my current role in 'The Marquise' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-mara/probably-the-only-type-of-cosmetic-surgery-i-d-consider-is-having-my/)

[Kate O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-mara/)

> [I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-be-changed-by-what-happens-to-me-but-i-refuse-to-be-reduced-by/)

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

> [If you are a great news organization, you can't have the best obtainable version of the truth if your vision and your scale is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/if-you-are-a-great-news-organization-you-can-t-have-the-best/)

[Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/)

> [I'd be a lot more excited about eliminating earmarks if we reduced all of the spending by whatever the earmarks used to be, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blunt/i-d-be-a-lot-more-excited-about-eliminating-earmarks-if-we-reduced/)

[Roy Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blunt/)

## More by George Carlin

> [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

[Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

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

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

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

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Carlin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-reduced-our-values/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-reduced-our-values/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/george-carlin-155_inspirational_we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-r_2701487.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/george-carlin-155_inspirational_we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-r_2701487.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/george-carlin-155_inspirational_we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-r_2701487.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.” — George Carlin",
                "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": "George Carlin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We have multiplied our possessions, but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-reduced-our-values/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/we-have-multiplied-our-possessions-but-reduced-our-values/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
