Desires Quote by John Stuart Mill
““Yet the love of money is not only one of the strongest moving forces of human life, but money is, in many cases, desired in and for itself; the desire to possess it is often stronger than the desire to use it, and goes on increasing when all the desires which point to ends beyond it, to be compassed by it, are falling off. It may, then, be said truly, that money is desired not for the sake of an end, but as part of the end. From being a means to happiness, it has come to be itself a principal ingredient of the individual's conception of happiness.””
About This Quote
Money often becomes an end in itself, valued more for its own sake than for the purposes it can serve, turning material wealth into a core component of personal happiness.
In simple terms: People treat money as a goal, not just a tool.
Key Takeaway
Beware of letting wealth define your happiness.
Themes
materialism
values
happiness
psychology
society
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- career planning
- financial investing
- personal fulfillment
- relationship dynamics
Key Concepts
Consumerism
intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation
hedonic adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you chase money for security or status?
- How does wealth affect your sense of purpose?
A Different Perspective
Money's pursuit can eclipse deeper fulfillment.
![“[For people] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c53/john-stuart-mill-477_doubt_for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opi_63929.jpg)
