--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The man who is rich in fancy thinks that…" description: "\"The man who is rich in fancy thinks that his wagon is already built; poor fool, he does not know that there are a hundred timbers to a wagon.\" — Hesiod" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/hesiod-2889_built_the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that_2033115.jpg" --- # The man who is rich in fancy thinks that his wagon is… ![“The man who is rich in fancy thinks that his wagon is already built; poor fool, he does not know that there are a hundred timbers to a wagon.” quote by Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/hesiod-2889_built_the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that_2033115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/hesiod-2889_built_the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that_2033115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/hesiod-2889_built_the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that_2033115.jpg) > “The man who is rich in fancy thinks that his wagon is already built; poor fool, he does not know that there are a hundred timbers to a wagon.” [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth without effort is illusory; true success requires many unseen foundations. **In simple terms:** Riches need hard work behind them. Key Takeaway Build solid foundations. Themes wealth effort humility Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - business planning - personal finance - career building Key Concepts Economics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What foundations are you missing? - How to recognize hidden work? A Different Perspective Neglecting fundamentals leads to collapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Fancy Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy-thinks-3744601/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Man Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-rich/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinks Wagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks-wagon-3744598/) [Timber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timber/) [Timbers Wagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timbers-wagon-3744600/) [Wagon Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wagon-built-3744599/) [Wagons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wagons/) ## Related quotes > [The rich man in goal the poor man in filth. The rich man lay on his lazy boy leather couch. The poor man sits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/the-rich-man-in-goal-the-poor-man-in-filth-the-rich-man-lay-on-his/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [... frugality makes a poor man rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/frugality-makes-a-poor-man-rich/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [That man is rich indeed who has more friends than enemies, fears no one, and is so busy building that he has no time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/that-man-is-rich-indeed-who-has-more-friends-than-enemies-fears-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Nature herself makes the wise man rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-herself-makes-the-wise-man-rich/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Do not be fooled into believing that because a man is rich he is necessarily smart. There is ample proof to the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-rosenwald/do-not-be-fooled-into-believing-that-because-a-man-is-rich-he-is/) [Julius Rosenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-rosenwald/) > [“Or, what does a poor man have, a rich man need, and you would die if you ate it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/or-what-does-a-poor-man-have-a-rich-man-need-and-you-would-die-if-you/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [Only laughter makes a man rich, but the laughter has to be blissful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-laughter-makes-a-man-rich-but-the-laughter-has-to-be-blissful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An inventor is someone who makes another man rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/an-inventor-is-someone-who-makes-another-man-rich/) [David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/) > [Money never made any man rich, but his mind. He that can order himself to the law of nature, is not only without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/money-never-made-any-man-rich-but-his-mind-he-that-can-order-himself/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The influential man is the successful man, whether he be rich or poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-influential-man-is-the-successful-man-whether-he-be-rich-or-poor/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is in the heart that makes a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/no-man-can-tell-whether-he-is-rich-or-poor-by-turning-to-his-ledger/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I have always believed that most large fortunes are made by men...who tumbled into a lucky opportunity. Hard work and attention to business are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-rosenwald/i-have-always-believed-that-most-large-fortunes-are-made-by-men-who/) [Julius Rosenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-rosenwald/) > [No man can Become Rich without enriching others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/no-man-can-become-rich-without-enriching-others/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [It is a wise man that does know the contented man is never poor, whilst the discontented man is never rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/it-is-a-wise-man-that-does-know-the-contented-man-is-never-poor/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [I feel that I am writing out of a full life. I am a rich man, rich in men known, in adventures had. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/i-feel-that-i-am-writing-out-of-a-full-life-i-am-a-rich-man-rich-in/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) ## More by Hesiod > [Gain not base gains; base gains are the same as losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/gain-not-base-gains-base-gains-are-the-same-as-losses/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Aegis-bearing Zeus has a design for each occasion, and mortals find this hard to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/aegis-bearing-zeus-has-a-design-for-each-occasion-and-mortals-find/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The best is he who calls men to the best. And those who heed the call are also blessed. But worthless who call not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-best-is-he-who-calls-men-to-the-best-and-those-who-heed-the-call/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [If you speak evil, you will soon be worse spoken of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/if-you-speak-evil-you-will-soon-be-worse-spoken-of/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Inhibition is no good provider for a needy man, Inhibition, which does men great harm and great good. Inhibition attaches to poverty, boldness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/inhibition-is-no-good-provider-for-a-needy-man-inhibition-which-does/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Potter is jealous of potter, and craftsman of craftsman; and the poor have a grudge against the poor, and the poet against the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/potter-is-jealous-of-potter-and-craftsman-of-craftsman-and-the-poor/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Preserve the mean; the opportune moment is best in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/preserve-the-mean-the-opportune-moment-is-best-in-all-things/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The potter is at enmity with the potter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-potter-is-at-enmity-with-the-potter/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [But he who neither thinks for himself nor learns from others, is a failure as a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/but-he-who-neither-thinks-for-himself-nor-learns-from-others-is-a/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/justice-prevails-over-transgression-when-she-comes-to-the-end-of-the/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [“It is best to work, at whatever you have a talent for doing, without turning your greedy thought toward what some other man possesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/it-is-best-to-work-at-whatever-you-have-a-talent-for-doing-without/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/i-see-no-hope-for-the-future-of-our-people-if-they-are-dependent-on/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Do not let a flattering woman coax and wheedle you and deceive you; she is after your barn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/do-not-let-a-flattering-woman-coax-and-wheedle-you-and-deceive-you/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [In the race for wealth, a neighbor tries to outdo his neighbor, but this strife is good for men. For the potter envies potter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/in-the-race-for-wealth-a-neighbor-tries-to-outdo-his-neighbor-but/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The Gods rank work above virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-gods-rank-work-above-virtues/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) [Explore all 146 Hesiod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) ## More Built quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [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/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [Call me the rap assassinator / rhymes rugged and built like Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/call-me-the-rap-assassinator-rhymes-rugged-and-built-like/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [Do we make ourselves into what we become or is it built into our genes, into the fate spun for us by whatever shapes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bruchac/do-we-make-ourselves-into-what-we-become-or-is-it-built-into-our/) [Joseph Bruchac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bruchac/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [God and I have built an immense fire together. We keep each other happy and warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafez/god-and-i-have-built-an-immense-fire-together-we-keep-each-other/) [Hafez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafez/) > [When we built Roomba, we explicitly designed it to not have a face. We didn't want to think it was cute; we wanted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-angle/when-we-built-roomba-we-explicitly-designed-it-to-not-have-a-face-we/) [Colin Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-angle/) > [Winning a competition in architecture is a ticket to oblivion. It's just an idea. Ninety-nine per cent never get built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-libeskind/winning-a-competition-in-architecture-is-a-ticket-to-oblivion-it-s/) [Daniel Libeskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-libeskind/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Mostly what I'm focused on is finding people who are younger who haven't built companies before but have a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hughes/mostly-what-i-m-focused-on-is-finding-people-who-are-younger-who/) [Chris Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hughes/) > [“Imagine what I could have done in ten years. I could have learned to speak Japanese. I could have played every RPG video game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/imagine-what-i-could-have-done-in-ten-years-i-could-have-learned-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,164 Built quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The man who is rich in fancy thinks that his wagon is already built; poor fool, he does not know that there are a hundred timbers to a wagon.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hesiod" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that-his-wagon-is-already-built/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Built" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that-his-wagon-is-already-built/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/hesiod-2889_built_the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that_2033115.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/hesiod-2889_built_the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that_2033115.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/hesiod-2889_built_the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that_2033115.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The man who is rich in fancy thinks that his wagon is already built; poor fool, he does not know that there…” — Hesiod", "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": "Hesiod", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The man who is rich in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that-his-wagon-is-already-built/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-man-who-is-rich-in-fancy-thinks-that-his-wagon-is-already-built/#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 } } ] } ```