---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Capitalism has resulted in material…"
description: "\"Capitalism has resulted in material well-being but spiritual bankruptcy.\" — Jeffrey Eugenides"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jeffrey-eugenides-462_bankruptcy_capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well_275821.png"
---

#  Capitalism has resulted in material well-being but…

![“Capitalism has resulted in material well-being but spiritual bankruptcy.” quote by Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jeffrey-eugenides-462_bankruptcy_capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well_275821.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jeffrey-eugenides-462_bankruptcy_capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well_275821.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jeffrey-eugenides-462_bankruptcy_capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well_275821.png)

> “Capitalism has resulted in material well-being but spiritual bankruptcy.”

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Material wealth flourishes under capitalism, yet spiritual emptiness can result.

**In simple terms:** Capitalism gives material wealth but may lack spiritual depth.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate spiritual well‑being alongside material success.

Themes

economics spirituality well‑being

Mood

contemplative critical

Type

philosophical social

When to use this quote

- personal finance
- career
- community building

Key Concepts

materialism meaning balance

Questions to Reflect On

- What practices nurture your inner life?
- How can society support spiritual health?

A Different Perspective

Spiritual fulfillment often requires resources beyond material means.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bankruptcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankruptcy/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Capitalism Resulted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism-resulted-2687147/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Material Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-spiritual-959543/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual Bankruptcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-bankruptcy-2289230/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/)

## Related quotes

> [Renunciation of thinking is a declaration of spiritual bankruptcy. - Out of My Life and Thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/renunciation-of-thinking-is-a-declaration-of-spiritual-bankruptcy-out/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [If India is not to declare spiritual bankruptcy, religious instruction of its youth must be held to be at least as necessary as secular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-india-is-not-to-declare-spiritual-bankruptcy-religious-instruction/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [Renunciation of thinking is a declaration of spiritual bankruptcy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/renunciation-of-thinking-is-a-declaration-of-spiritual-bankruptcy/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [The material and the spiritual are but two parts of one universe and one truth. By overstressing one part or the other, man fails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-material-and-the-spiritual-are-but-two-parts-of-one-universe-and/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [There should be a balance between material and spiritual progress, a balance achieved through the principles based on love and compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-should-be-a-balance-between-material-and-spiritual-progress-a/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Meditation is a glorious link to connect and harmonize the two ends of life - material and spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/meditation-is-a-glorious-link-to-connect-and-harmonize-the-two-ends/)

[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/)

> [The calling of art is to extract us from our daily reality, to bring us to a hidden truth that's difficult to access -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/the-calling-of-art-is-to-extract-us-from-our-daily-reality-to-bring/)

[Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/)

> [ALL THINGS, material and spiritual, originate from one source and are related as if they were one family. The past, present, and future are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/all-things-material-and-spiritual-originate-from-one-source-and-are/)

[Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/)

> [Without the slightest doubt there is something through which material and spiritual energy hold togehter and are complementary. In the last analysis, somehow or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/without-the-slightest-doubt-there-is-something-through-which-material/)

[Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/)

> [Hinduism has made marvelous discoveries in things of religion, of the spirit, of the soul. We have no eye for these great and fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/hinduism-has-made-marvelous-discoveries-in-things-of-religion-of-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [We need energy, commitment, and courage not to run from our life nor to cover it over with any philosophy—material or spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-need-energy-commitment-and-courage-not-to-run-from-our-life-nor-to/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

> [What is man? ... What a strange union of matter and mind! A machine for converting material into spiritual force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-peirce/what-is-man-what-a-strange-union-of-matter-and-mind-a-machine-for/)

[Benjamin Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-peirce/)

> [Riches, both material and spiritual, can choke you if you do not use them fairly. For not even God can put anything in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/riches-both-material-and-spiritual-can-choke-you-if-you-do-not-use/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [In materiality we find some advance faster, some grow stronger, some become weaklings. Until there is redemption through the acceptance of the law (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/in-materiality-we-find-some-advance-faster-some-grow-stronger-some/)

[Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/)

> [The battle between free will and listening to the inner voice will remain eternal. Similarly, in the debate over material and spiritual rewards; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/the-battle-between-free-will-and-listening-to-the-inner-voice-will/)

[Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/)

## More by Jeffrey Eugenides

> [“Only the Lisbon house remained dark, a tunnel, an emptiness, past our smoke and flames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/only-the-lisbon-house-remained-dark-a-tunnel-an-emptiness-past-our/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [“She had just started living like a grown-up and she'd never felt more vulnerable, frightened or confused in her life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/she-had-just-started-living-like-a-grown-up-and-she-d-never-felt-more/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [It's often said that a traumatic experience early in life marks a person forever, pulls her out of line, saying, "Stay there. Don't move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/it-s-often-said-that-a-traumatic-experience-early-in-life-marks-a/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [“Adolescents tend to seek love where they can find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/adolescents-tend-to-seek-love-where-they-can-find-it/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [“The window was still open,” Mr Lisbon said. “I don’t think we’d ever remembered to shut it. It was all clear to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-window-was-still-open-mr-lisbon-said-i-don-t-think-we-d-ever/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [I was aware that you weren't supposed to write about suburbia, that it was undignified in some way, the subject matter not momentous enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-was-aware-that-you-weren-t-supposed-to-write-about-suburbia-that-it/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [“Dr. Armonson stitched up her wrist wounds. Within five minutes of the transfusion he declared her out of danger. Chucking her under the chin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/dr-armonson-stitched-up-her-wrist-wounds-within-five-minutes-of-the/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [“I don't approve of women driving, mind you. And now they get to vote!" He grumbled to himself. "Remember that play we saw ("The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-don-t-approve-of-women-driving-mind-you-and-now-they-get-to-vote-he/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [“Her face was calm, but inside she was tense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/her-face-was-calm-but-inside-she-was-tense/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [I know that attaching memories to books may be going out of the world, but while it lasts, it's a strong record of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-know-that-attaching-memories-to-books-may-be-going-out-of-the-world/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [I spend most of every day writing. I like to write every day if I can. I don't start extremely early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-spend-most-of-every-day-writing-i-like-to-write-every-day-if-i-can/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [Maybe the best proof that the language is patriarchal is that it oversimplifies feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/maybe-the-best-proof-that-the-language-is-patriarchal-is-that-it/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [We knew that Cecilia had killed herself because she was a misfit, because the beyond called to her, and we knew that her sisters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/we-knew-that-cecilia-had-killed-herself-because-she-was-a-misfit/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [You can tell when something's not moving forward anymore. When the doubts you have about it don't go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/you-can-tell-when-something-s-not-moving-forward-anymore-when-the/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [Normality wasn't normal. It couldn't be. If normality were normal, everybody could leave it alone. They could sit back and let normality manifest itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/normality-wasn-t-normal-it-couldn-t-be-if-normality-were-normal/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

[Explore all 516 Jeffrey Eugenides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

## More Bankruptcy quotes

> [One's ability to enter into thousands of lawsuits as a tool for success, or to use bankruptcy to avoid paying your former employees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/one-s-ability-to-enter-into-thousands-of-lawsuits-as-a-tool-for/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [And now, what has Anarchism to say to all this, this bankruptcy of republicanism, this modern empire that has grown up on the ruins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/and-now-what-has-anarchism-to-say-to-all-this-this-bankruptcy-of/)

[Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/)

> [The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-moral-and-constitutional-obligations-of-our-representatives-in/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [“Bankruptcy-Seeking assistance on declaring and filing for bankruptcy then bankruptcy centre is the right place.Get professional advice and guidance before you file for bankruptcy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankruptcy-centre/bankruptcy-seeking-assistance-on-declaring-and-filing-for-bankruptcy/)

[Bankruptcy Centre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankruptcy-centre/)

> [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/)

[Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/)

> [Trump Entertainment Resorts declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Or as Donald Trump describes Chapter 11, "Back-to-back number ones!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/trump-entertainment-resorts-declared-chapter-11-bankruptcy-or-as/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [If we don't change, millions of American families are just one medical emergency, or one layoff, away from financial disaster and bankruptcy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/if-we-don-t-change-millions-of-american-families-are-just-one-medical/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [The unions and the auto companies have been unable to put a deal together that fundamentally restructures the industry. It needs to get done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-unions-and-the-auto-companies-have-been-unable-to-put-a-deal/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The current health care takeover proposals feature a crucial payoff to Big Labor - a golden exemption from any tax on union members' generous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/the-current-health-care-takeover-proposals-feature-a-crucial-payoff/)

[Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/)

> [Legalized gambling is the leading cause of bankruptcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/legalized-gambling-is-the-leading-cause-of-bankruptcy/)

[John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/)

> [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [ In my very first term there was an issue that brought us \[George Mitchell, Ted Kennedy, Chris Dodd\] together in a very deep, emotional,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/in-my-very-first-term-there-was-an-issue-that-brought-us-george/)

[Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/)

> [Even if the government spends itself into bankruptcy and the economy still does not recover, Keynesians can always say that it would have worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/even-if-the-government-spends-itself-into-bankruptcy-and-the-economy/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [In our equities business, 49 of the 50 most important Lehman clients are back doing business with us. The flows are 75 to 80…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-diamond/in-our-equities-business-49-of-the-50-most-important-lehman-clients/)

[Bob Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-diamond/)

> [In 1997, the National Bankruptcy Review Commission recommended that chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the chapter that contains bankruptcy protection for family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/in-1997-the-national-bankruptcy-review-commission-recommended-that/)

[Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/)

[Browse all 307 Bankruptcy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankruptcy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Capitalism has resulted in material well-being but spiritual bankruptcy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jeffrey Eugenides"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well-being-but-spiritual/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bankruptcy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well-being-but-spiritual/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jeffrey-eugenides-462_bankruptcy_capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well_275821.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jeffrey-eugenides-462_bankruptcy_capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well_275821.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jeffrey-eugenides-462_bankruptcy_capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well_275821.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Capitalism has resulted in material well-being but spiritual bankruptcy.” — Jeffrey Eugenides",
                "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": "Jeffrey Eugenides",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Capitalism has resulted in material well-being...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well-being-but-spiritual/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/capitalism-has-resulted-in-material-well-being-but-spiritual/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
