--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because money permits a constant stream…" description: "\"“Because money permits a constant stream of luxuries and indulgences, it can take away their savor, and by permitting instant gratification, money shor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/gretchen-rubin-867_gratification_because-money-permits-a-constant-stream_1396425.jpg" --- # Because money permits a constant stream of luxuries and… ![“Because money permits a constant stream of luxuries and indulgences, it can take away their savor, and by permitting instant gratification, money shortcuts the happiness of anticipation. Scrimping, saving, imagining, planning, hoping--these stages enlarge the happiness we feel.” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/gretchen-rubin-867_gratification_because-money-permits-a-constant-stream_1396425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/gretchen-rubin-867_gratification_because-money-permits-a-constant-stream_1396425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/gretchen-rubin-867_gratification_because-money-permits-a-constant-stream_1396425.jpg) > ““Because money permits a constant stream of luxuries and indulgences, it can take away their savor, and by permitting instant gratification, money shortcuts the happiness of anticipation. Scrimping, saving, imagining, planning, hoping--these stages enlarge the happiness we feel.”” [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Constant luxury and instant gratification diminish the pleasure of anticipation; restraint and planning heighten happiness. **In simple terms:** Luxury reduces joy; planning increases it. Key Takeaway Practice delayed gratification. Themes happiness anticipation gratification mindset Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - budgeting - goal setting - long‑term projects - mindful consumption Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate more anticipation into daily life? - What simple pleasures can you savor without immediate consumption? A Different Perspective Money can’t replace the emotional buildup that makes experiences rewarding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification/) [Gratification Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification-money-4881772/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Instant gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant-gratification/) [Luxuries Indulgences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxuries-indulgences-4881773/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Shortcuts Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcuts-happiness-2494330/) ## Related quotes > [There are what we call shortcuts to happiness. 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Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [We must accept all of Gods will for us, not just those portions that happen to appeal and bring instant gratification and pleasure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-parsley/we-must-accept-all-of-gods-will-for-us-not-just-those-portions-that/) [Rod Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-parsley/) > [I like the challenge and instant gratification of landing a new jump or learning a new element. That made me fall in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/i-like-the-challenge-and-instant-gratification-of-landing-a-new-jump/) [Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/) > [“When we allow ourselves to show some patience and take time to listen to the others, we may learn a lot about ourselves. Patience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-we-allow-ourselves-to-show-some-patience-and-take-time-to-listen/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“In our quest for entertainment and instant gratification, we have become detached from the real world and its problems, contributing to the erosion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/in-our-quest-for-entertainment-and-instant-gratification-we-have/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) ## More by Gretchen Rubin > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/knowing-what-you-admire-in-others-is-a-wonderful-mirror-into-your/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/being-taken-for-granted-is-an-unpleasant-but-sincere-form-of-praise/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [One of the findings that really interests me is that, although we think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, we often FEEL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-the-findings-that-really-interests-me-is-that-although-we/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [We all want to get along well with other people, and one way to do this is to help people feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/we-all-want-to-get-along-well-with-other-people-and-one-way-to-do/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [During my study of happiness, I noticed something that surprised me: I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/during-my-study-of-happiness-i-noticed-something-that-surprised-me-i/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [There is a preppy wabi-sabi to soft, faded khakis and cotton shirts, but it's not nice to be surrounded by things that are worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-is-a-preppy-wabi-sabi-to-soft-faded-khakis-and-cotton-shirts/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“There are times in the lives of most of us,” observed William Edward Hartpole Lecky, “when we would have given all the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-are-times-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-observed-william-edward/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“I started thinking more about music. I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-started-thinking-more-about-music-i-thought-i-d-accepted-the-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-pleasure-of-doing-the-same-thing-in-the-same-way-every-day/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/although-we-often-assume-that-feelings-inspire-actions-in-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I love finding - or inventing - ways to categorize people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-love-finding-or-inventing-ways-to-categorize-people/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/after-someone-s-death-how-strange-to-see-the-value-drain-away-from/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) [Explore all 346 Gretchen Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## More Gratification quotes > [One moment of gratification is not worth a lifetime of being unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-moment-of-gratification-is-not-worth-a-lifetime-of-being-unhappy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment, not the gratification of inexhaustible desires for outward things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/happiness-is-a-state-of-inner-fulfillment-not-the-gratification-of/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [For me, just the sheer fact that I get to act and do this for a living is enough personal gratification and individual fulfillment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/for-me-just-the-sheer-fact-that-i-get-to-act-and-do-this-for-a-living/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [This is the great truth life has to teach us ... that gratification of our individual desires and expression of our personal preferences without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hortense-odlum/this-is-the-great-truth-life-has-to-teach-us-that-gratification-of/) [Hortense Odlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hortense-odlum/) > [Self-love . . . is the sole antagonist of virtue, leading us constantly by our propensities to self-gratification in violation of our moral duties to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/self-love-is-the-sole-antagonist-of-virtue-leading-us-constantly-by/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“In our quest for entertainment and instant gratification, we have become detached from the real world and its problems, contributing to the erosion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/in-our-quest-for-entertainment-and-instant-gratification-we-have/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [Our ideas of happiness, gratification, contentment, satisfaction, all demand that those feelings come from within us. If you flip that on its head and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bogost/our-ideas-of-happiness-gratification-contentment-satisfaction-all/) [Ian Bogost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bogost/) > [The realization that my problem was one that concerned all men, a problem of living and thinking, suddenly swept over me and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-realization-that-my-problem-was-one-that-concerned-all-men-a/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“When we allow ourselves to show some patience and take time to listen to the others, we may learn a lot about ourselves. Patience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-we-allow-ourselves-to-show-some-patience-and-take-time-to-listen/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [I definitely think we're living in a world or generation where we need constant gratification and adoration with Instagram and likes, and we base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-ballinger/i-definitely-think-we-re-living-in-a-world-or-generation-where-we/) [Colleen Ballinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-ballinger/) > [“They therefore have no opportunity to suffer the interval between desire and gratification which the less privileged endure, and which, for all its apparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/they-therefore-have-no-opportunity-to-suffer-the-interval-between/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [ “Nothing could be more admirable than the manner in which for forty years he \[Joseph Black\] performed this useful and dignified office. 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