--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We work our whole lives trying to get…" description: "\"“We work our whole lives trying to get rich so we can impress the world with our fancy houses and cars, but in the end it doesn't matter how much money..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/j-s-bailey-58146_bad-choices_we-work-our-whole-lives-trying-to-get-ri_765797.jpg" --- # We work our whole lives trying to get rich so we can… ![“We work our whole lives trying to get rich so we can impress the world with our fancy houses and cars, but in the end it doesn't matter how much money we make. What matters most are the choices we make, and unfortunately I made some very bad choices.” quote by J.S. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/j-s-bailey-58146_bad-choices_we-work-our-whole-lives-trying-to-get-ri_765797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/j-s-bailey-58146_bad-choices_we-work-our-whole-lives-trying-to-get-ri_765797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/j-s-bailey-58146_bad-choices_we-work-our-whole-lives-trying-to-get-ri_765797.jpg) > ““We work our whole lives trying to get rich so we can impress the world with our fancy houses and cars, but in the end it doesn't matter how much money we make. What matters most are the choices we make, and unfortunately I made some very bad choices.”” [J.S. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-bailey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects that wealth and status are irrelevant; moral choices define life, and they regret poor decisions. **In simple terms:** Choices matter more than money. Key Takeaway Focus on ethical decisions. Themes ethics regret materialism Mood reflective somber Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - financial decisions - relationship choices Key Concepts philosophy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your legacy? - How can you amend past errors? A Different Perspective Wealth cannot erase past mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-choices/) [Choices Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-make/) [Life lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lessons/) [Matter Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-money-345349/) [Matters Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-choices-1832988/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Trying Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-rich-302218/) ## Related quotes > [A brand is a storehouse of trust that matters more and more as choices multiply. People want to simplify their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-fitzgerald/a-brand-is-a-storehouse-of-trust-that-matters-more-and-more-as/) [Niall FitzGerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-fitzgerald/) > [“Contrary to what we've been told, life is simple. We complicate matters with our choices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-richardson/contrary-to-what-we-ve-been-told-life-is-simple-we-complicate-matters/) [Michelle Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-richardson/) > [“You are not the poor trying to be rich! You are the rich discovering your inheritance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-are-not-the-poor-trying-to-be-rich-you-are-the-rich-discovering/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [I'm already popular in my city. I was just trying to get rich. Man, I'm not gonna lie to you; I didn't really want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-uzi-vert/i-m-already-popular-in-my-city-i-was-just-trying-to-get-rich-man-i-m/) [Lil Uzi Vert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-uzi-vert/) > [I think that the reason why we Americans seem to be so addicted to trying to get rich suddenly is merely because the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-think-that-the-reason-why-we-americans-seem-to-be-so-addicted-to/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“But there’s always going to be someone richer than you, someone who has something you don’t—so can you gain happiness by chasing wealth? Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-there-s-always-going-to-be-someone-richer-than-you-someone-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well, I think the biggest mistake is not learning the habits of saving properly early. Because saving is a habit. And then, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/well-i-think-the-biggest-mistake-is-not-learning-the-habits-of-saving/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Everybody's a mix of good and bad choices that they make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/everybody-s-a-mix-of-good-and-bad-choices-that-they-make/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [“We make choices. We make bad choices. But we still deserve the right to choose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/we-make-choices-we-make-bad-choices-but-we-still-deserve-the-right-to/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“FOREVER RULES “Whether you want to know it, and even if you don’t accept it, you are completely responsible for the choices you make.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-g-bridges/forever-rules-whether-you-want-to-know-it-and-even-if-you-don-t/) [Clint G. Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-g-bridges/) > [I think life is a matter of choices and that wherever we are, good or bad, is because of choices we make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/i-think-life-is-a-matter-of-choices-and-that-wherever-we-are-good-or/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [“Don't go around saying y.o.l.o. You need to live life to the fullest not going around making bad choices make good choices. Have good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaylynn-cameron/don-t-go-around-saying-y-o-l-o-you-need-to-live-life-to-the-fullest/) [Jaylynn Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaylynn-cameron/) > [Even bad choices sometimes make great stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mly-ab/even-bad-choices-sometimes-make-great-stories/) [MlY AB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mly-ab/) > [I don't believe anyone is good or bad. It's about the choices we make, about how we deal with situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-oberoi/i-don-t-believe-anyone-is-good-or-bad-it-s-about-the-choices-we-make/) [Vivek Oberoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-oberoi/) > [Bad choices make good stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-trudeau/bad-choices-make-good-stories/) [Margaret Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-trudeau/) ## More by J.S. Bailey > [“The world is one unending chess match, my dear, and I am the one playing it how I please. I poke and prod to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-bailey/the-world-is-one-unending-chess-match-my-dear-and-i-am-the-one/) [J.S. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-bailey/) > [“There are people who hate the truth. It is a poison to them. The only way to protect themselves from the poison is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-bailey/there-are-people-who-hate-the-truth-it-is-a-poison-to-them-the-only/) [J.S. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-bailey/) > [“Only the flesh dies, Kerry. The flesh is vapor. When the vapor drifts away and is gone, only we remain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-bailey/only-the-flesh-dies-kerry-the-flesh-is-vapor-when-the-vapor-drifts/) [J.S. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-bailey/) > [“As much as he loathed himself for it, he couldn't stop thinking about Abigail. If he hadn't met her, he might be married to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-bailey/as-much-as-he-loathed-himself-for-it-he-couldn-t-stop-thinking-about/) [J.S. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-bailey/) > [“Oh, fine.' Rochelle sprinkled some water over one of the glowstones and laid the object down in the center of their tiny camp. 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-bailey/oh-fine-rochelle-sprinkled-some-water-over-one-of-the-glowstones-and/) [J.S. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-bailey/) [Explore all 6 J.S. Bailey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-bailey/) ## More Bad choices quotes > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“What would you think if I told you that, yes, your bad choices and decisions have had a part in your ending up under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/what-would-you-think-if-i-told-you-that-yes-your-bad-choices-and/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [ Loneliness is something we \[all people\] go through. We go through mourning and longing. We make some bad choices sometimes because we're desperate for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/loneliness-is-something-we-all-people-go-through-we-go-through/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [“Do More. Be More. You were made for more! Take all the chances and leaps. Every single step of the journey is a maze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinonye-j-chidolue/do-more-be-more-you-were-made-for-more-take-all-the-chances-and-leaps/) [Chinonye J. Chidolue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinonye-j-chidolue/) > [In Lullabies, I wanted to capture what I remembered of the drunken babbling of unfortunate twelve-year-olds: their illusions, their ludicrously bad choices, their lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/in-lullabies-i-wanted-to-capture-what-i-remembered-of-the-drunken/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [ Britney and I wore matching denim outfits \[to the 2001 American Music Awards\]. Yeah, another bad choice. I’d probably pay good money to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/britney-and-i-wore-matching-denim-outfits-to-the-2001-american-music/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [Your life is like credit. If you make bad choices and decisions its gonna effect everything in your life as well as yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-life-is-like-credit-if-you-make-bad-choices-and-decisions-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I love painting. I love drawing. I’m never let down, even when the picture isn’t exactly what I want. I can keep working on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla-cagan/i-love-painting-i-love-drawing-i-m-never-let-down-even-when-the/) [Kayla Cagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayla-cagan/) > [Everyone makes mistakes in life, but that doesnt mean they have to pay for them the rest of their life sometimes good people make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vvn/everyone-makes-mistakes-in-life-but-that-doesnt-mean-they-have-to-pay/) [VVN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vvn/) > [Sometimes, good people make bad choices. It doesn't mean they're bad…it means they're human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-good-people-make-bad-choices-it-doesn-t-mean-they-re-bad-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For good-intentioned people making decisions, there's no such thing as a bad choice. So it doesn't matter what you choose. Choose something, then deliberately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/for-good-intentioned-people-making-decisions-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Love is too strong and life is too short. You have to love with your heart and live with your faith; you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-wainwright/love-is-too-strong-and-life-is-too-short-you-have-to-love-with-your/) [Abby Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-wainwright/) > [I am the result of the good choices I've made and the bad choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-am-the-result-of-the-good-choices-i-ve-made-and-the-bad-choices/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“Sometimes, when I read, it's not just fiction while I'm between the pages. It’s real. My heart races when they kiss, and I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-hart/sometimes-when-i-read-it-s-not-just-fiction-while-i-m-between-the/) [Emma Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-hart/) > [I've lost a bunch of friends - some of them in jail, some of them made bad choices, some of them aren't where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-lost-a-bunch-of-friends-some-of-them-in-jail-some-of-them-made/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) [Browse all 202 Bad choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We work our whole lives trying to get rich so we can impress the world with our fancy houses and cars, but in the end it doesn't matter how much money we make. What matters most are the choices we make, and unfortunately I made some very bad choices.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.S. 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