---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prosperity inebriates men, so that they…"
description: "\"Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delights in their own merits.\" — John Calvin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/john-calvin-490_delight_prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-t_1509522.jpg"
---

#  Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delights in…

![“Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delights in their own merits.” quote by John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/john-calvin-490_delight_prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-t_1509522.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/john-calvin-490_delight_prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-t_1509522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/john-calvin-490_delight_prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-t_1509522.jpg)

> “Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delights in their own merits.”

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

## About This Quote

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

Wealth can intoxicate, leading people to pride in their own achievements.

**In simple terms:** Wealth can make people arrogant.

Key Takeaway

Stay humble despite success.

Themes

wealth pride humility spirituality human flaw

Mood

cautionary thoughtful

Type

theological ethical

When to use this quote

- finance
- leadership
- public service
- personal finance
- spiritual counseling

Key Concepts

Moral hazard self‑deception ethical humility

Questions to Reflect On

- How does wealth affect self‑perception?
- What practices keep success grounded?

A Different Perspective

Prosperity may also enable philanthropy, not just pride.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Delights Merits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delights-merits-5553952/) [Inebriates Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inebriates-men-5553950/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Delights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-delights-5553951/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Prosperity Inebriates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity-inebriates-5553948/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

## Related quotes

> [Look deep into the hearts of men, and see what delights and disgusts the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/look-deep-into-the-hearts-of-men-and-see-what-delights-and-disgusts/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [The Lord commands us to do good unto all men without exception, though the majority are very undeserving when judged according to their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-lord-commands-us-to-do-good-unto-all-men-without-exception-though-2/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [The Lord commands us to do good unto all men without exception, though the majority are very undeserving when judged according to their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-lord-commands-us-to-do-good-unto-all-men-without-exception-though/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [Vain men delight in telling what Honours have been done them, what great Company they have kept, and the like; by which they plainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/vain-men-delight-in-telling-what-honours-have-been-done-them-what/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [Before I met Ayn Rand, I was a logical positivist, and accordingly, I didn't believe in absolutes, moral or otherwise. If I couldn't prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/before-i-met-ayn-rand-i-was-a-logical-positivist-and-accordingly-i/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/)

[Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/)

> [There is no discussion inside this boardroom to say we've got to get into this or that. We look at every growth opportunity on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-packer/there-is-no-discussion-inside-this-boardroom-to-say-we-ve-got-to-get/)

[James Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-packer/)

> [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [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/)

> [Even the most abject have a sense of superiority based on powerful though undefined merits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-abject-have-a-sense-of-superiority-based-on-powerful/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

## More by John Calvin

> [I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness - nay, I have never found common sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/i-have-never-seen-either-a-drop-of-piety-or-a-grain-of-truth-or/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [It is no small honour that God for our sake has so magnificently adorned the world, in order that we may not only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/it-is-no-small-honour-that-god-for-our-sake-has-so-magnificently/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [No man can come to God but by an extraordinary revelation of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/no-man-can-come-to-god-but-by-an-extraordinary-revelation-of-the/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation to the observance of it, than when we are taught that all the endowments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stronger-exhortation-to-the/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [The surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-surest-source-of-destruction-to-men-is-to-obey-themselves/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [The whole gospel is contained in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-whole-gospel-is-contained-in-christ/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [For Scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-scripture-is-the-school-of-the-holy-spirit-in-which-as-nothing-is/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [“For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against-2/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [If a preacher is not first preaching to himself, better that he falls on the steps of the pulpit and breaks his neck than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/if-a-preacher-is-not-first-preaching-to-himself-better-that-he-falls/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [Again I ask whence it happened that the fall of Adam involved, without remedy, in eternal death so many nations, together with their infant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/again-i-ask-whence-it-happened-that-the-fall-of-adam-involved-without/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [Unless God's Word illumine the way, the whole life of men is wrapped in darkness and mist, so that they cannot but miserably stray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/unless-god-s-word-illumine-the-way-the-whole-life-of-men-is-wrapped/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

[Explore all 520 John Calvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

## More Delight quotes

> [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/)

[Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/)

> [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/)

[James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/)

> [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/)

[Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/)

> [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/)

[Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/)

> [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/)

[Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/)

> [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/)

[Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/)

> [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/)

[Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/)

> [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/)

[Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/)

> [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/)

[Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/)

> [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/)

[Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/)

> [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

[Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delights in their own merits.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Calvin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-take-delights-in-their-own/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Delight"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-take-delights-in-their-own/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/john-calvin-490_delight_prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-t_1509522.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/john-calvin-490_delight_prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-t_1509522.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/john-calvin-490_delight_prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-t_1509522.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delights in their own merits.” — John Calvin",
                "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": "John Calvin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Prosperity inebriates men, so that they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-take-delights-in-their-own/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/prosperity-inebriates-men-so-that-they-take-delights-in-their-own/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
