--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must understand what our idea of…" description: "\"We must understand what our idea of wealth is. Is it just about more buildings, more machines, more cars, more of everything? More and more is death. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/jaggi-vasudev-693_affluence_we-must-understand-what-our-idea-of-weal_846761.jpg" --- # We must understand what our idea of wealth is. Is it just… ![“We must understand what our idea of wealth is. Is it just about more buildings, more machines, more cars, more of everything? More and more is death. In the most affluent societies in the world, for example in the United States of America, a significant percentage of the population is on…” quote by Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/jaggi-vasudev-693_affluence_we-must-understand-what-our-idea-of-weal_846761.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/jaggi-vasudev-693_affluence_we-must-understand-what-our-idea-of-weal_846761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/jaggi-vasudev-693_affluence_we-must-understand-what-our-idea-of-weal_846761.jpg) > “We must understand what our idea of wealth is. Is it just about more buildings, more machines, more cars, more of everything? More and more is death. In the most affluent societies in the world, for example in the United States of America, a significant percentage of the population is on anti-depressants on a regular basis. If you just withdraw one particular medication from the market, almost half the nation will go crazy. That is not wellbeing. Generally, an American citizen has everything that anyone would dream of.” [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth defined by endless accumulation leads to societal unhappiness and mental health crises. **In simple terms:** More stuff does not equal more wellbeing. Key Takeaway Prioritize mental health over material excess. Themes materialism mental health wellbeing consumerism Mood concerned reflective Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - urban life - policy making - personal finance - healthcare planning Key Concepts psychology social critique economics Questions to Reflect On - How does your personal definition of wealth affect your happiness? - What societal changes could reduce reliance on medication? A Different Perspective Not all societies experience the same link between wealth and depression; cultural factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affluence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affluence/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) [American citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) [Depressants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressants/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Medication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medication/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Percentages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percentages/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [United states of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-of-america/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wellbeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wellbeing/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Small children in affluent societies often dislike showering, and it takes them years of education and parental discipline to adopt this supposedly attractive custom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/small-children-in-affluent-societies-often-dislike-showering-and-it/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“When we over consume the Earth's resources, we create an economic imbalance in societies and in the world. Affluent people and affluent societies can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-gandhi/when-we-over-consume-the-earth-s-resources-we-create-an-economic/) [Arun Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-gandhi/) > [Wealth is just consistency... I don't want to be rich. I want to be wealthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quavo/wealth-is-just-consistency-i-don-t-want-to-be-rich-i-want-to-be/) [Quavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quavo/) > [“You don't need to chase wealth, just become a real entrepreneur and the world is your oyster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amah-lambert/you-don-t-need-to-chase-wealth-just-become-a-real-entrepreneur-and/) [Amah Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amah-lambert/) > [I don't waste too much time philosophizing about wealth, I just recommend it to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/i-don-t-waste-too-much-time-philosophizing-about-wealth-i-just/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“I pursue wealth not just for myself, but for those I’ve never met.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/i-pursue-wealth-not-just-for-myself-but-for-those-i-ve-never-met/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [That is what capitalism is: a system that brings wealth to the many, not just the few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/that-is-what-capitalism-is-a-system-that-brings-wealth-to-the-many/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“Ideally, earning full-on wealth, not just cash, will become more like what spending is like already. There will be a multitude of incremental wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/ideally-earning-full-on-wealth-not-just-cash-will-become-more-like/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [The distribution of wealth is just as important as its creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-randolph-hearst/the-distribution-of-wealth-is-just-as-important-as-its-creation/) [William Randolph Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-randolph-hearst/) > [Anti-depressants helped me get up in the morning and stopped me from being sad, but what they also do is stop you from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-flack/anti-depressants-helped-me-get-up-in-the-morning-and-stopped-me-from/) [Caroline Flack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-flack/) > [But its crazy - like ten percent a year increase of children taking fucking anti-depressants. Pre-schoolers are like, the most prescribed. That makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/but-its-crazy-like-ten-percent-a-year-increase-of-children-taking/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [If you're an addict, if you drink and you're putting a depressant into your body, it's going to cause serious problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/if-you-re-an-addict-if-you-drink-and-you-re-putting-a-depressant-into/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [I am not embarrassed to say that when I was at my worst I took anti-depressants because I think people need to hear that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/i-am-not-embarrassed-to-say-that-when-i-was-at-my-worst-i-took-anti/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [“Sylvie wishes the anti-depressants had been around when she was in her early twenties, not only to rescue her from the dark tunnels that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/sylvie-wishes-the-anti-depressants-had-been-around-when-she-was-in/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“I tell him I take anti-depressants, which leads him on a thirty-minute detour. He tells me sadness is a part of finding out who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-winston/i-tell-him-i-take-anti-depressants-which-leads-him-on-a-thirty-minute/) [Hilary Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-winston/) ## More by Jaggi Vasudev > [Meditation is an opportunity to move into a dimension where there is no such thing as stress within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/meditation-is-an-opportunity-to-move-into-a-dimension-where-there-is/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [If you try to live that which is past, that which IS will bypass you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-you-try-to-live-that-which-is-past-that-which-is-will-bypass-you/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Plain intellectual thinking is the peak of ignorance because all that you will know is to play with a few aspects and make others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/plain-intellectual-thinking-is-the-peak-of-ignorance-because-all-that/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [If you impose morality on people, they will find ways to circumvent their guilt. They will make offerings to temples - or other places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-you-impose-morality-on-people-they-will-find-ways-to-circumvent/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [The process of wanting to clean India is not an overnight job. At the same time, if we can inspire all citizens, it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/the-process-of-wanting-to-clean-india-is-not-an-overnight-job-at-the/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [At my ashram, people work long hours joyfully because they are inspired. When people are involved and joyfully doing something, they usually turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/at-my-ashram-people-work-long-hours-joyfully-because-they-are/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Devotion is when your involvement with life is so absolute that you yourself do not matter anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/devotion-is-when-your-involvement-with-life-is-so-absolute-that-you/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Spirituality is not about looking up or down - it's about looking inward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/spirituality-is-not-about-looking-up-or-down-it-s-about-looking-inward/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [The cosmos is a complex amalgamation of sounds. One of the key sounds through which you can experience the cosmic nature of creation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/the-cosmos-is-a-complex-amalgamation-of-sounds-one-of-the-key-sounds/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [There are no problems in the world. There are just situations. Some situations you know how to handle. Some you do not know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/there-are-no-problems-in-the-world-there-are-just-situations-some/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [It is not predictions but plans that make the future. If you want predictions, it is because you do not have the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/it-is-not-predictions-but-plans-that-make-the-future-if-you-want/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [If you cultivate your body, your mind, your emotions, and your energies to a certain level of maturity, meditation will blossom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-you-cultivate-your-body-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-energies/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [If only there is a sufficient number of people whose experience of life goes beyond body and mind, this world will be a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-only-there-is-a-sufficient-number-of-people-whose-experience-of/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Communism is a way of thinking. Socialism is wimpy communism. When you don't have the courage to become a communist, you become a socialist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/communism-is-a-way-of-thinking-socialism-is-wimpy-communism-when-you/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Most of the time you are thinking about life, not living life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/most-of-the-time-you-are-thinking-about-life-not-living-life/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) [Explore all 406 Jaggi Vasudev quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) ## More Affluence quotes > [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [The secret of achieving prosperity lies in so vividly keeping yourself centered in the inner focus of affluence that you literally exude the consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/the-secret-of-achieving-prosperity-lies-in-so-vividly-keeping/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [Affluence = abundant flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/affluence-abundant-flow/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [“If I am to choose between integrity and wealth, I will go for integrity because I believe that lack of integrity is the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-i-am-to-choose-between-integrity-and-wealth-i-will-go-for/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > ['Playboy' made the good life a reality for me and made it the subject matter of my paintings - not affluence and luxury as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/playboy-made-the-good-life-a-reality-for-me-and-made-it-the-subject/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [Affluence creates poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/affluence-creates-poverty/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The primary cause of disorder and lawlessness today, as throughout history, is the poverty of the many in contrast to the affluence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/the-primary-cause-of-disorder-and-lawlessness-today-as-throughout/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [To generate any appreciable degree of long-term affluence requires scrupulous honesty and the willingness to honor long-term agreements with employers, suppliers, partners, and especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheaffer/to-generate-any-appreciable-degree-of-long-term-affluence-requires/) [Robert Sheaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheaffer/) > [“Imam Hussein Ibn Ali al-Shaheed was once asked: what is affluence? He said : Decreasing your wishes , and being satisfied with what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/imam-hussein-ibn-ali-al-shaheed-was-once-asked-what-is-affluence-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don't want to be around people who accept me as is, in my unrefined state of becoming. I consistently want people around me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-l-bates/i-don-t-want-to-be-around-people-who-accept-me-as-is-in-my-unrefined/) [Brandi L. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-l-bates/) > [Large department stores, with their luxuriant abundance of canned goods, foods, and clothing, are like the primary landscape and the geometrical locus of affluence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/large-department-stores-with-their-luxuriant-abundance-of-canned/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/owning-a-home-is-a-keystone-of-wealth-both-financial-affluence-and/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [“Don’t let affluence make you impoverished of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bloom/don-t-let-affluence-make-you-impoverished-of-god/) [Jon Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bloom/) > [“Drama does not just walk into our lives. Either we create it, invite it, or associate with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-l-bates/drama-does-not-just-walk-into-our-lives-either-we-create-it-invite-it/) [Brandi L. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-l-bates/) > [There is wealth but no wellbeing. What are you going to do with this wealth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/there-is-wealth-but-no-wellbeing-what-are-you-going-to-do-with-this/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) [Browse all 181 Affluence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affluence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must understand what our idea of wealth is. Is it just about more buildings, more machines, more cars, more of everything? More and more is death. 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