--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They are fools that think that wealth or…" description: "\"“They are fools that think that wealth or women or strong drink or even drugs can buy the most in effort out of the soul of a man. These things offer p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/gordon-r-dickson-28226_agency_they-are-fools-that-think-that-wealth-or_1234541.png" --- # They are fools that think that wealth or women or strong… ![“They are fools that think that wealth or women or strong drink or even drugs can buy the most in effort out of the soul of a man. These things offer pale pleasures compared to that which is greatest of them all, that task which demands from him more than his utmost strength, that absorbs him, bone…” quote by Gordon R. Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/gordon-r-dickson-28226_agency_they-are-fools-that-think-that-wealth-or_1234541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/gordon-r-dickson-28226_agency_they-are-fools-that-think-that-wealth-or_1234541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/gordon-r-dickson-28226_agency_they-are-fools-that-think-that-wealth-or_1234541.png) > ““They are fools that think that wealth or women or strong drink or even drugs can buy the most in effort out of the soul of a man. These things offer pale pleasures compared to that which is greatest of them all, that task which demands from him more than his utmost strength, that absorbs him, bone and sinew and brain and hope and fear and dreams—and still calls for more. They are fools who think otherwise. No great effort was ever bought. No painting, no music, no poem, no cathedral in stone, no church, no state was ever raised into being for payment of any kind. No Parthenon, no Thermopylae was ever built or fought for pay or glory; no Bukhara sacked, or China ground beneath Mongol heel, for loot or power alone. The payment for the doing of these things was itself the doing of them. To wield oneself—to use oneself as a tool in one's own hand—and so to make or break that which no one else can build or nun—that is the greatest pleasure known to man! To one who has felt the chisel in his hand and set free the angel prisoned in the marble block, or to one who has felt the sword in hand and set homeless the soul that a moment before lived in the body of his mortal enemy—to these both come alike the taste of that rare food spread only for demons or for gods.”” [Gordon R. Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-r-dickson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from exerting oneself beyond personal limits, not from material rewards; the deepest satisfaction is in creating or conquering something that only you can achieve. **In simple terms:** Great effort, not wealth, gives real joy. Key Takeaway Seek challenges that demand your full self. Themes purpose self‑actualization creativity heroism effort Mood determined exhilarated reflective Type philosophical inspirational literary When to use this quote - artistic creation - military conquest - personal growth - overcoming adversity Key Concepts existentialism flow mastery Questions to Reflect On - What personal challenge pushes you beyond comfort? - How does creating something unique affect your sense of self? A Different Perspective Material gain cannot replace the intrinsic reward of self‑transcendence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) ## Related quotes > [“They are fools that think that wealth or women or strong drink or even drugs can buy the most in effort out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-r-dickson/they-are-fools-that-think-that-wealth-or-women-or-strong-drink-or/) [Gordon R. Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-r-dickson/) > [The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-wise-are-wise-only-because-they-love-the-fool-are-fools-only/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Most fools think they are only ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/most-fools-think-they-are-only-ignorant/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“No man is free. Only children and fools think elsewise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/no-man-is-free-only-children-and-fools-think-elsewise/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“As time moves on the line will blur. 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Or are we all destined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/are-we-all-fools-to-think-there-really-is-such-a-thing-as-true/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [Only fools think they're wise; the rest of us just muddle through as we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/only-fools-think-they-re-wise-the-rest-of-us-just-muddle-through-as/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [“Mankind is made of two kinds of people: wise people who know they're fools, and fools who think they are wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/mankind-is-made-of-two-kinds-of-people-wise-people-who-know-they-re/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! 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That is one of the social lies that a free, thinking man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/the-majority-never-has-right-on-its-side-never-i-say-that-is-one-of/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“In a world of fools, I was, I think, to him one of the greater fools.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-blixen/in-a-world-of-fools-i-was-i-think-to-him-one-of-the-greater-fools/) [Karen Blixen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-blixen/) > [Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/great-men-undertake-great-things-because-they-are-great-fools-because/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Great minds think alike, not a big deal even fools think alike to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh/great-minds-think-alike-not-a-big-deal-even-fools-think-alike-to/) [Rajesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh/) ## More by Gordon R. Dickson > [“They are fools that think that wealth or women or strong drink or even drugs can buy the most in effort out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-r-dickson/they-are-fools-that-think-that-wealth-or-women-or-strong-drink-or/) [Gordon R. Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-r-dickson/) > [A camel is a horse designed by a committee and a committee's a sweet running piece of machinery compared to any government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-r-dickson/a-camel-is-a-horse-designed-by-a-committee-and-a-committee-s-a-sweet/) [Gordon R. Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-r-dickson/) > [Now our world is at the present time firmly in the grip of a mechanical monster, whose head - if you want to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-r-dickson/now-our-world-is-at-the-present-time-firmly-in-the-grip-of-a/) [Gordon R. 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Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-r-dickson/) [Explore all 19 Gordon R. Dickson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-r-dickson/) ## More Agency quotes > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. 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They are fools who think otherwise. No great effort was ever bought. No painting, no music, no poem, no cathedral in stone, no church, no state was ever raised into being for payment of any kind. No Parthenon, no Thermopylae was ever built or fought for pay or glory; no Bukhara sacked, or China ground beneath Mongol heel, for loot or power alone. The payment for the doing of these things was itself the doing of them. To wield oneself—to use oneself as a tool in one's own hand—and so to make or break that which no one else can build or nun—that is the greatest pleasure known to man! To one who has felt the chisel in his hand and set free the angel prisoned in the marble block, or to one who has felt the sword in hand and set homeless the soul that a moment before lived in the body of his mortal enemy—to these both come alike the taste of that rare food spread only for demons or for gods.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon R. 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