Business Quote by Henry Fielding
““...the pleasures of the world are chiefly folly, and the business of it mostly knavery, and both nothing better than vanity; the men of pleasure tearing one another to pieces from the emulation of spending money, and the men of business from envy in getting it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, 1749
Worldly pleasures are shallow, driven by vanity and greed, leading to conflict and envy among those seeking status or wealth.
In simple terms: Pleasures are shallow and cause conflict.
Key Takeaway
Avoid vanity and greed.
Themes
vanity
greed
conflict
social critique
Mood
cynical
critical
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- business negotiations
- consumer culture
- political discourse
Key Concepts
Moralism
human nature
satire
Questions to Reflect On
- What truly brings lasting fulfillment?
- How can we balance ambition with integrity?
A Different Perspective
Such critiques may overlook genuine joy and ethical pursuits.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
