--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Money is a singular thing. It ranks with…" description: "\"Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy. And with death as his greatest source of anxiety. Over all history it ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_anxiety_money-is-a-singular-thing-it-ranks-with_827489.png" --- # Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's… ![“Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy. And with death as his greatest source of anxiety. Over all history it has oppressed nearly all people in one of two ways: either it has been abundant and very unreliable, or reliable and very scarce.” quote by John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_anxiety_money-is-a-singular-thing-it-ranks-with_827489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_anxiety_money-is-a-singular-thing-it-ranks-with_827489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_anxiety_money-is-a-singular-thing-it-ranks-with_827489.png) > “Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy. And with death as his greatest source of anxiety. Over all history it has oppressed nearly all people in one of two ways: either it has been abundant and very unreliable, or reliable and very scarce.” [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Money can bring joy like love but also cause deep anxiety; its history shows it is either plentiful yet unreliable or scarce yet dependable. **In simple terms:** Money brings joy and anxiety; its supply is unstable. Key Takeaway Recognize money’s dual nature and plan for both abundance and scarcity. Themes wealth anxiety instability human nature Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - budgeting - investing - financial planning - risk management Key Concepts economics psychology history Questions to Reflect On - How does your relationship with money affect your wellbeing? - Can you balance desire for wealth with emotional health? A Different Perspective Money’s influence varies across cultures and personal values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Personally, I have struggled with anxiety in my history, so I think maybe anxiety or worrying about the future came naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hale/personally-i-have-struggled-with-anxiety-in-my-history-so-i-think/) [Tony Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hale/) > [No organization can depend on genius; the supply is always scarce and unreliable. 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