--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not what we take up, but what we…" description: "\"It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.\" — Henry Ward Beecher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/henry-ward-beecher-175_give_it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-gi_1092290.png" --- # It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes… ![“It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.” quote by Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/henry-ward-beecher-175_give_it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-gi_1092290.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/henry-ward-beecher-175_give_it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-gi_1092290.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/henry-ward-beecher-175_give_it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-gi_1092290.png) > “It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.” [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## 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 comes from what we sacrifice, not what we acquire, highlighting the value of self‑denial. **In simple terms:** Giving up makes you rich. Key Takeaway Prioritize sacrifice over accumulation. Themes ethics generosity wealth Mood thoughtful inspirational Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - charitable work - budgeting - personal budgeting Key Concepts altruism self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to give up for greater good? - How can you balance giving with self‑care? A Different Perspective Sacrifices may lead to loss or resentment if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/in-this-world-it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-give-up-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-rich-man-is-always-sold-to-the-institution-which-makes-him-rich/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What makes the rich cry, must've killed the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jezreel-scott/what-makes-the-rich-cry-must-ve-killed-the-poor/) [Jezreel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jezreel-scott/) > [It's how we spend ourselves - not our money - that makes us rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-green/it-s-how-we-spend-ourselves-not-our-money-that-makes-us-rich/) Alex Green > [Money might make you wealthy, but friends makes you rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/money-might-make-you-wealthy-but-friends-makes-you-rich/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not how much money you make that makes you rich, it's how you spend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-jaffe/it-s-not-how-much-money-you-make-that-makes-you-rich-it-s-how-you/) Charles Jaffe > [The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-rich-man-is-always-sold-to-the-institution-which-makes-him-rich-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It is not what you eat, but what you digest,that makes you strong. It is not what you can earn, but what you save,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harold-swan/it-is-not-what-you-eat-but-what-you-digest-that-makes-you-strong-it/) John Harold Swan > [“It is not your target and plan that makes you rich,richness is from God almighty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waleed-mis/it-is-not-your-target-and-plan-that-makes-you-rich-richness-is-from/) Waleed MIS > [No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sabin/no-matter-how-little-money-and-how-few-possessions-you-own-having-a/) [Louis Sabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sabin/) > [If there were one who lived wholly without the use of money, the State itself would hesitate to demand it of him. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-there-were-one-who-lived-wholly-without-the-use-of-money-the-state/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Money doesn't have anything have anything to do with the magnificence of a person. It doesn't. What matters is what you make. Whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/money-doesn-t-have-anything-have-anything-to-do-with-the-magnificence/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [By desiring little, a poor man makes himself rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/by-desiring-little-a-poor-man-makes-himself-rich/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [“22 ¶ The blessing of the LORD is that which makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendal-russell-m/22-the-blessing-of-the-lord-is-that-which-makes-rich-and-he-adds-no/) [Stendal, Russell M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendal-russell-m/) > [They who assert the purest right, and consequently are most dangerous to a corrupt State, commonly have not spent much time accumulating property. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/they-who-assert-the-purest-right-and-consequently-are-most-dangerous/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Henry Ward Beecher > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Even a liar tells a hundred truths to one lie; he has to, to make the lie good for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/even-a-liar-tells-a-hundred-truths-to-one-lie-he-has-to-to-make-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [In America there is not one single element of civilization that is not made to depend, in the end, upon public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/in-america-there-is-not-one-single-element-of-civilization-that-is/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The best lessons a man ever learns are from his mistakes. It is not for want of schoolmasters that we are still ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-best-lessons-a-man-ever-learns-are-from-his-mistakes-it-is-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [THERE are joys which long to be ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-are-joys-which-long-to-be-ours/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [People may talk about the equality of the sexes! They are not equal. The silent smile of a sensible, loving woman will vanquish ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/people-may-talk-about-the-equality-of-the-sexes-they-are-not-equal/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirth-is-god-s-medicine-everybody-ought-to-bathe-in-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [You have seen a ship out on the bay, swinging with the tide, and seeming as if it would follow it; and yet it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/you-have-seen-a-ship-out-on-the-bay-swinging-with-the-tide-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Explore all 990 Henry Ward Beecher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More Give quotes > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Give me an impromptu 50-person guest list, a fold-out emergency trestle table and a pack of frozen vol-au-vent cases and, darlings, I will give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-dent/give-me-an-impromptu-50-person-guest-list-a-fold-out-emergency/) [Grace Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-dent/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/) [Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/) > [I can get runs much faster if I stay there in the middle to give bowlers more time and cushion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-rahul/i-can-get-runs-much-faster-if-i-stay-there-in-the-middle-to-give/) [K. L. Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-l-rahul/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/in-france-they-spend-six-months-training-policemen-then-they-give/) [Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/) > [You've got a lot of Tupac clones, but I don't think I'm one of them. I just think I give people a little piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/you-ve-got-a-lot-of-tupac-clones-but-i-don-t-think-i-m-one-of-them-i/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [What greater insult can you give God than to take your own life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thibodeau/what-greater-insult-can-you-give-god-than-to-take-your-own-life/) [David Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thibodeau/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) > [What I do know is I'm going to give absolute 100 percent effort any time I'm on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/what-i-do-know-is-i-m-going-to-give-absolute-100-percent-effort-any/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [Don't be a taker, be a giver, because when you give you get back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/don-t-be-a-taker-be-a-giver-because-when-you-give-you-get-back/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [I could give you some names of Workshop participants who are as good as many who are being published but haven't had the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-could-give-you-some-names-of-workshop-participants-who-are-as-good/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) Browse all 5,141 Give quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Ward Beecher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-give-up-that-makes-us-rich/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Give" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-give-up-that-makes-us-rich/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/henry-ward-beecher-175_give_it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-gi_1092290.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/henry-ward-beecher-175_give_it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-gi_1092290.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/henry-ward-beecher-175_give_it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-gi_1092290.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.” — Henry Ward Beecher", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Ward Beecher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not what we take...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-give-up-that-makes-us-rich/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-not-what-we-take-up-but-what-we-give-up-that-makes-us-rich/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```