--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man's riches are based on what he can…" description: "\"“A man's riches are based on what he can do without.”\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/henry-david-thoreau-20_money_a-man-s-riches-are-based-on-what-he-can_1897486.jpg" --- # A man's riches are based on what he can do without. ![“A man's riches are based on what he can do without.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/henry-david-thoreau-20_money_a-man-s-riches-are-based-on-what-he-can_1897486.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/henry-david-thoreau-20_money_a-man-s-riches-are-based-on-what-he-can_1897486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/henry-david-thoreau-20_money_a-man-s-riches-are-based-on-what-he-can_1897486.jpg) > ““A man's riches are based on what he can do without.”” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wealth is measured by self‑sufficiency and the ability to live without excess material reliance. **In simple terms:** Wealth is what you can do without. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑reliance. Themes simplicity self‑sufficiency philosophy Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal finance - environmental sustainability Key Concepts minimalism ethical living Questions to Reflect On - What can you eliminate to feel richer? - How does self‑sufficiency affect happiness? A Different Perspective Modern consumer culture may resist minimalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) ## Related quotes > [A learned man has always riches in himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedrus/a-learned-man-has-always-riches-in-himself/) [Phaedrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedrus/) > [All your dreams of riches are based on magazines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-halen/all-your-dreams-of-riches-are-based-on-magazines/) [Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-halen/) > [There are those who say that children make a rich man poor. No, they have it backward. Children make a poor man rich. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/there-are-those-who-say-that-children-make-a-rich-man-poor-no-they/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [It is not the fact that a man has riches which keeps him from the kingdom of heaven, but the fact that riches have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caird/it-is-not-the-fact-that-a-man-has-riches-which-keeps-him-from-the/) John Caird > [...in respect of riches, no citizen shall ever be wealthy enough to buy another, and none poor enough to be forced to sell himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/in-respect-of-riches-no-citizen-shall-ever-be-wealthy-enough-to-buy/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The incorruptible things are all within the narrow gate. The peace of God which passed all understanding - the bright hope of good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-incorruptible-things-are-all-within-the-narrow-gate-the-peace-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do not value money for any more nor any less than its worth; it is a good servant but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alexandre-dumas/do-not-value-money-for-any-more-nor-any-less-than-its-worth-it-is-a/) Thomas-Alexandre Dumas > [“Time is the only inborn wealth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-is-the-only-inborn-wealth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Richer than the Riches, We certified gettin' it CM YM Cash Money business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/birdman/richer-than-the-riches-we-certified-gettin-it-cm-ym-cash-money/) Birdman > [“NEVER SACRIFICE YOUR VALUES & MORALS FOR RICHES OR FAME. 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Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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