--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many possessions, if they do not make a…" description: "\"Many possessions, if they do not make a man better, are at least expected to make his children happier; and this pathetic hope is behind many exertions..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/george-santayana-478_children_many-possessions-if-they-do-not-make-a-m_1289388.png" --- # Many possessions, if they do not make a man better, are at… ![“Many possessions, if they do not make a man better, are at least expected to make his children happier; and this pathetic hope is behind many exertions.” quote by George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/george-santayana-478_children_many-possessions-if-they-do-not-make-a-m_1289388.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/george-santayana-478_children_many-possessions-if-they-do-not-make-a-m_1289388.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/george-santayana-478_children_many-possessions-if-they-do-not-make-a-m_1289388.png) > “Many possessions, if they do not make a man better, are at least expected to make his children happier; and this pathetic hope is behind many exertions.” [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Material possessions are valued only if they improve the owner or his descendants; otherwise they are hollow pursuits. **In simple terms:** Possessions should improve lives. Key Takeaway Seek meaningful impact. Themes philosophy materialism legacy Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - family planning - financial planning - career choices Key Concepts existentialism value theory Questions to Reflect On - What truly makes possessions valuable? - How can we measure improvement for future generations? A Different Perspective We may overvalue wealth without considering its true benefit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Happier Pathetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier-pathetic-4194556/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope Exertions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-exertions-4194557/) [Pathetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathetic/) [Pathetic Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathetic-hope-4194555/) [Possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions/) [Possessions Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions-make-1132971/) ## Related quotes > [“Certain material possessions make my life more enjoyable, many others do not…. All too often, a vast collection of possessions end up possessing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-kliksberg/certain-material-possessions-make-my-life-more-enjoyable-many-others/) [Bernardo Kliksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-kliksberg/) > [None of those material possessions do anything to make your life any better… I know a lot of people who have a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/none-of-those-material-possessions-do-anything-to-make-your-life-any/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [“The idea that property has overcome our personalities is the single reason we'll miss the best part of our lives. 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Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kavanaugh/) > [In sports teams, apart from talk of sporting prowess and the imparting of inspirational thought, an extraordinary amount of time is spent discussing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/in-sports-teams-apart-from-talk-of-sporting-prowess-and-the-imparting/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) > [Possessions can possess you. Even a lawn can possess you. It makes you buy a garden hose. Which makes you water. Which cuts into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/possessions-can-possess-you-even-a-lawn-can-possess-you-it-makes-you/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) ## More by George Santayana > [Perhaps the universe is nothing but an equilibrium of idiocies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/perhaps-the-universe-is-nothing-but-an-equilibrium-of-idiocies/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [The combative instinct is a savage prompting by which one man's good is found in another's evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-combative-instinct-is-a-savage-prompting-by-which-one-man-s-good/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Sanctity and genius are as rebellious as vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/sanctity-and-genius-are-as-rebellious-as-vice/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [“The contemporary world has turned its back on the attempt and even on the desire to live reasonably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-contemporary-world-has-turned-its-back-on-the-attempt-and-even-on/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [The pride of the artisan in his art and its uses is pride in himself...It is in his skill and ability to make things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-pride-of-the-artisan-in-his-art-and-its-uses-is-pride-in-himself/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [If pain could have cured us we should long ago have been saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/if-pain-could-have-cured-us-we-should-long-ago-have-been-saved/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Towers in a modern town are a frill and a survival; 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