--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the expensiveness of our pleasures…" description: "\"It is the expensiveness of our pleasures that makes the world poor and keeps us poor in ourselves. If we could but learn to find enjoyment in the thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_economic_it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures_2944442.jpg" --- # It is the expensiveness of our pleasures that makes the… ![“It is the expensiveness of our pleasures that makes the world poor and keeps us poor in ourselves. If we could but learn to find enjoyment in the things of the mind, the economic problems would solve themselves.” quote by John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_economic_it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures_2944442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_economic_it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures_2944442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_economic_it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures_2944442.jpg) > “It is the expensiveness of our pleasures that makes the world poor and keeps us poor in ourselves. If we could but learn to find enjoyment in the things of the mind, the economic problems would solve themselves.” [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Material excess makes societies poor; mental enjoyment could solve economic woes. **In simple terms:** Riches cause poverty; mental joy could fix it. Key Takeaway Seek fulfillment beyond material goods. Themes economics philosophy spirituality Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical social When to use this quote - personal finance - education - public policy Key Concepts consumerism mindfulness wealth distribution Questions to Reflect On - How can societies value intellectual pleasures? - What policies encourage mental enrichment? A Different Perspective Not all mental pursuits are accessible to everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-problems/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Expensiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensiveness-59210/) [Expensiveness Pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensiveness-pleasures-4405612/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Learn Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-enjoyment-4405613/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-economic-4405611/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Solve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solve/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Expensive pleasures will soon bring the richest person down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/expensive-pleasures-will-soon-bring-the-richest-person-down/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“The idea of luxury, even the word "luxury," was important to Arabella. Luxury meant something that was by definition overpriced, but was so nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/the-idea-of-luxury-even-the-word-luxury-was-important-to-arabella/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [“Freedom is an expensive gift always worth fighting for. Even if it costs us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marck-e-estemil/freedom-is-an-expensive-gift-always-worth-fighting-for-even-if-it/) [Marck E. Estemil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marck-e-estemil/) > [Before the math and the momentum overwhelm us all, we are going to solve this nation's economic problems. And I'm going to level with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/before-the-math-and-the-momentum-overwhelm-us-all-we-are-going-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Old men declare war because they have failed to solve complex political and economic problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hoppe/old-men-declare-war-because-they-have-failed-to-solve-complex/) [Art Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hoppe/) > [I do not think that we have psychological and ethical and economic problems. We have human problems, with psychological, ethical and economical aspects, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/i-do-not-think-that-we-have-psychological-and-ethical-and-economic/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [When you get your self realization or your second birth you become entitled to an awareness by which you can find out the roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/when-you-get-your-self-realization-or-your-second-birth-you-become/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Economic problems have no sharp edges. They shade off imperceptibly into politics, sociology, and ethics. Indeed, it is hardly an exaggeration to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/economic-problems-have-no-sharp-edges-they-shade-off-imperceptibly/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [I don't know if this is an illusion but I would love to be able to take my card-throwing skills and be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-don-t-know-if-this-is-an-illusion-but-i-would-love-to-be-able-to/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [Everybody complains about pork, but members of Congress keep spending because voters do not throw them out of office for doing so. The rotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/everybody-complains-about-pork-but-members-of-congress-keep-spending/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [To me, I don't have any problems. I don't have economic problems. I have an independent life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-carvalhal/to-me-i-don-t-have-any-problems-i-don-t-have-economic-problems-i-have/) [Carlos Carvalhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-carvalhal/) > [“When politics and home life have become one and the same, when economic problems have been solved in such a way that individual and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudhon/when-politics-and-home-life-have-become-one-and-the-same-when/) [Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proudhon/) > [With respect to the development of powers devoted to coping with specific scientific and economic problems we may say that the child should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/with-respect-to-the-development-of-powers-devoted-to-coping-with/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/where-there-has-been-racial-hatred-it-must-be-ended-where-there-has/) [Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/) > [The 'key-log' which must be moved to release the evolutionary process for an ethic is simply this: quit thinking about decent land-use as solely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/land-ethic/the-key-log-which-must-be-moved-to-release-the-evolutionary-process/) [Land ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/land-ethic/) ## More by John Lancaster Spalding > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [To think profoundly, to seek and speak truth, to love justice and denounce wrong is to draw upon one's self the ill will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/to-think-profoundly-to-seek-and-speak-truth-to-love-justice-and/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [There is some lack either of sense or of character in one who becomes involved in difficulties with the worthless or the vicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/there-is-some-lack-either-of-sense-or-of-character-in-one-who-becomes/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Worry, whatever its source, weakens, takes away courage, and shortens life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/worry-whatever-its-source-weakens-takes-away-courage-and-shortens-life/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [The zest of life lies in right doing, not in the garnered harvest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/the-zest-of-life-lies-in-right-doing-not-in-the-garnered-harvest/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [They who can no longer unlearn have lost the power to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/they-who-can-no-longer-unlearn-have-lost-the-power-to-learn/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [What we think out for ourselves forms channels in which other thoughts will flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/what-we-think-out-for-ourselves-forms-channels-in-which-other/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/women-are-aristocrats-and-it-is-always-the-mother-who-makes-us-feel/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Though what we accept be true, it is a prejudice unless we ourselves have considered and understood why and how it is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/though-what-we-accept-be-true-it-is-a-prejudice-unless-we-ourselves/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [There are few things it is more important to learn than how to live on little and be therewith content: for the less we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/there-are-few-things-it-is-more-important-to-learn-than-how-to-live/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [We are more disturbed by a calamity which threatens us than by one which has befallen us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/we-are-more-disturbed-by-a-calamity-which-threatens-us-than-by-one/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Be watchful lest thou lose the power of desiring and loving what appeals to the soul this is the miser's curse this the chain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/be-watchful-lest-thou-lose-the-power-of-desiring-and-loving-what/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [The exercise of authority is odious, and they who know how to govern, leave it in abeyance as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/the-exercise-of-authority-is-odious-and-they-who-know-how-to-govern/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [We may outgrow the things of children, without acquiring sense and relish for those which become a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/we-may-outgrow-the-things-of-children-without-acquiring-sense-and/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [They who see through the eyes of others are controlled by the will of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/they-who-see-through-the-eyes-of-others-are-controlled-by-the-will-of/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) [Explore all 139 John Lancaster Spalding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) ## More Economic quotes > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/) [Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/) > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [In short, both experience and economic theory imply that the US could now t to a more competitive dollar without experiencing either increased inflation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/in-short-both-experience-and-economic-theory-imply-that-the-us-could/) [Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) [Browse all 6,235 Economic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is the expensiveness of our pleasures that makes the world poor and keeps us poor in ourselves. If we could but learn to find enjoyment in the things of the mind, the economic problems would solve themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Lancaster Spalding" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures-that-makes-the-world-poor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Economic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures-that-makes-the-world-poor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_economic_it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures_2944442.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_economic_it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures_2944442.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_economic_it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures_2944442.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is the expensiveness of our pleasures that makes the world poor and keeps us poor in ourselves. If we…” — John Lancaster Spalding", "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 Lancaster Spalding", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is the expensiveness of our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures-that-makes-the-world-poor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/it-is-the-expensiveness-of-our-pleasures-that-makes-the-world-poor/#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 } } ] } ```