--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This country is founded on some very…" description: "\"“This country is founded on some very noble ideals but also some very big lies. One is that everyone has a fair chance at success. Another is that rich..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/john-hodgman-1811_health_this-country-is-founded-on-some-very-nob_637401.jpg" --- # This country is founded on some very noble ideals but also… ![“This country is founded on some very noble ideals but also some very big lies. One is that everyone has a fair chance at success. Another is that rich people have to be smart and hardworking or else they would´t be rich. Another is that if you´re not rich, don´t worry about it, because rich people…” quote by John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/john-hodgman-1811_health_this-country-is-founded-on-some-very-nob_637401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/john-hodgman-1811_health_this-country-is-founded-on-some-very-nob_637401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/john-hodgman-1811_health_this-country-is-founded-on-some-very-nob_637401.jpg) > ““This country is founded on some very noble ideals but also some very big lies. One is that everyone has a fair chance at success. Another is that rich people have to be smart and hardworking or else they would´t be rich. Another is that if you´re not rich, don´t worry about it, because rich people aren´t really happy. I am the white male living proof that all of that is garbage. The vast degree to which my mental health improved once I had the smallest measure of economic security immediately unmasked this shameful fiction to me. Money cannot buy happiness, but it buys the conditions for happiness: time, occasional freedom from constantly worry, a moment of breath to plan for the future, and the ability to be generous.”” [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the myth that success is solely merit‑based and that wealth guarantees happiness, noting that economic security enables conditions for well‑being. **In simple terms:** Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it buys freedom and security. Key Takeaway Recognize how financial stability can improve mental health. Themes meritocracy wealth happiness mental health social myth Mood reflective critical hopeful Type observational analytical When to use this quote - Personal finance planning - mental health therapy - policy debate on income inequality - career counseling - public speaking Key Concepts Economic security psychology social inequality American Dream Questions to Reflect On - How does financial security change your daily stress levels? - What societal changes could reduce the myth of meritocracy? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook systemic barriers that affect those without any economic security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Don T Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-worry-212992/) [Hardworking Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardworking-rich-5124773/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Ideals Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals-big-5124775/) [Living proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-proof/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Success Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-rich-401561/) [Worry Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-rich-5124774/) ## Related quotes > [“Then Roper turned round. “I hope this isn‟t your idea of a joke,” he said. “This is empty.” Cray smiled at him from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-roper-turned-round-i-hope-this-isn-t-your-idea-of-a-joke-he-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Outside I hopped into our vehicle, the taint of vampiric magic clinging to me like greasy smoke. “I feel soiled.” “Like walking into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/outside-i-hopped-into-our-vehicle-the-taint-of-vampiric-magic/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Donʹt worry now about what you canʹt change. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/the-man-who-lives-for-himself-is-a-failure-even-if-he-gains-much/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [It is those who are successful, in other words, who are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/it-is-those-who-are-successful-in-other-words-who-are-most-likely-to/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Poor and most middle-class people believe "If I have a lot of money, I could do what I want and I'd be a success."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/poor-and-most-middle-class-people-believe-if-i-have-a-lot-of-money-i/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [No one can possibly achieve any real and lasting success or 'get rich' in business by being a conformist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/no-one-can-possibly-achieve-any-real-and-lasting-success-or-get-rich/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [While society cannot provide employment for its members, the production/work/income nexus has to be abandoned as a justification for our present parsimony to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/while-society-cannot-provide-employment-for-its-members-the/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [“living proof that a male and female could be friends and comingle without hooking up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-n-joy/living-proof-that-a-male-and-female-could-be-friends-and-comingle/) [E.N. Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-n-joy/) > [I' ve been shot five times but I'm still breathing living proof there a god if you need a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-ve-been-shot-five-times-but-i-m-still-breathing-living-proof-there/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Through all ages, great saints have remained as living proof that this non-temporary, permanent state of God consciousness can be revived in all living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/through-all-ages-great-saints-have-remained-as-living-proof-that-this/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [And it's obvious that you're dying, dying Just living proof that the camera's lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/and-it-s-obvious-that-you-re-dying-dying-just-living-proof-that-the/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) ## More by John Hodgman > [Life may be miraculous in its unlikelihood in the universe, but it would be a fallacy to suggest that its rareness makes it inextinguishable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/life-may-be-miraculous-in-its-unlikelihood-in-the-universe-but-it/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I navigated the world as a hedge maze of constant fear and worry in which I might take the wrong turn and jeopardize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-navigated-the-world-as-a-hedge-maze-of-constant-fear-and-worry-in/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [“There are transitions in life whether we want them or not. 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The city is designed to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/when-you-live-in-new-york-or-any-big-city-it-is-easy-to-fail-at/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I don't wish to brag, but I'm very intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-don-t-wish-to-brag-but-i-m-very-intelligent/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Well, I always had this desire to celebrate and somehow be a part of things that I thought were really great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/well-i-always-had-this-desire-to-celebrate-and-somehow-be-a-part-of/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I would be good for maybe not the center square but an upper square on 'Hollywood Squares.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-would-be-good-for-maybe-not-the-center-square-but-an-upper-square/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [One of the things about crowd work that's so exciting is when you discover a character in the audience who's interesting or funny, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/one-of-the-things-about-crowd-work-that-s-so-exciting-is-when-you/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [“Maine is not a death cult. I mean, it is, but it's a slow one. It creeps in like the tide, and without your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/maine-is-not-a-death-cult-i-mean-it-is-but-it-s-a-slow-one-it-creeps/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) [Explore all 207 John Hodgman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) ## More Health quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. 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I am the white male living proof that all of that is garbage. The vast degree to which my mental health improved once I had the smallest measure of economic security immediately unmasked this shameful fiction to me. 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