---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we prosper only through the suffering…"
description: "\"“If we prosper only through the suffering or death of another, then that is not prosperity.”\" — Kate Elliott"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/kate-elliott-14285_death_if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering_2179560.png"
---

#  If we prosper only through the suffering or death of…

![“If we prosper only through the suffering or death of another, then that is not prosperity.” quote by Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/kate-elliott-14285_death_if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering_2179560.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/kate-elliott-14285_death_if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering_2179560.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/kate-elliott-14285_death_if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering_2179560.png)

> ““If we prosper only through the suffering or death of another, then that is not prosperity.””

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

## About This Quote

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

Prosperity built on others' suffering is not true wealth; moral integrity matters more than material gain.

**In simple terms:** True wealth isn't built on others' pain.

Key Takeaway

Seek ethical success.

Themes

ethics prosperity justice

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- business
- politics
- personal ambition
- community development

Key Concepts

moral philosophy social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines prosperity for you?
- How can you ensure your success doesn't harm others?

A Different Perspective

Success can be ambiguous when measured only by wealth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-prosperity-4702676/) [Prosper Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosper-suffering-3246206/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-death-230877/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

## Related quotes

> [It may be providence's will that the cause I represent may prosper more by my suffering than by my remaining free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bal-gangadhar-tilak/it-may-be-providence-s-will-that-the-cause-i-represent-may-prosper/)

[Bal Gangadhar Tilak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bal-gangadhar-tilak/)

> [Pain, suffering, death I feel. Something terrible has happened. Young Skywalker is in pain. Terrible pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pain-suffering-death-i-feel-something-terrible-has-happened-young/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Unless death is made a lesson for the living, the life lived is wasted. Why should life come into existence only to be destroyed?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/unless-death-is-made-a-lesson-for-the-living-the-life-lived-is-wasted/)

[Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/)

> [“Even if we're among the lucky few who benefit from civilization, we find ourselves curiously unsatisfied, plagued by stress, worry, and conflict... Like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-carter/even-if-we-re-among-the-lucky-few-who-benefit-from-civilization-we/)

[Michael Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-carter/)

> [We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/we-want-to-avoid-suffering-death-sin-ashes-but-we-live-in-a-world/)

[Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/)

> [“All major religious traditions accept that suffering and death are simply part of life. The deep radicalism of humanitarian action is its belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rieff/all-major-religious-traditions-accept-that-suffering-and-death-are/)

[David Rieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rieff/)

> [I think people can get a little weirded out by pain, suffering, and death. They don't know what to do so they end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/i-think-people-can-get-a-little-weirded-out-by-pain-suffering-and/)

[Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/)

> [“Subjecting other living things to pain, suffering, and death is the biggest fault in the human race”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-rosenberg/subjecting-other-living-things-to-pain-suffering-and-death-is-the/)

[Zoe Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-rosenberg/)

> [“I thought you liked suffering and death. I mean... you always look like suffering and death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-tankersley-cusick/i-thought-you-liked-suffering-and-death-i-mean-you-always-look-like/)

[Richie Tankersley Cusick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-tankersley-cusick/)

> [Almost every time I am in a lectureship on a college campus, young people will say, If there is a God and if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clayton/almost-every-time-i-am-in-a-lectureship-on-a-college-campus-young/)

[John Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clayton/)

> [“Now, perhaps nowhere as poignantly as in the omnipresent theme of Christ dying on the cross, the central image of art is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riane-eisler/now-perhaps-nowhere-as-poignantly-as-in-the-omnipresent-theme-of/)

[Riane Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riane-eisler/)

> [“There are worse things than suffering and death... it is worse to lose one's self-respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ndor-m-rai/there-are-worse-things-than-suffering-and-death-it-is-worse-to-lose/)

[Sándor Márai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ndor-m-rai/)

> [I used to take that God's-eye view as a comfort when I was a child. I'd think, "Well, we couldn't find the world meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-used-to-take-that-god-s-eye-view-as-a-comfort-when-i-was-a-child-i/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [“When pain becomes a way of existence, we stop hoping for an end to the suffering. The death of hope is its own resilience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunyi-dean/when-pain-becomes-a-way-of-existence-we-stop-hoping-for-an-end-to-the/)

[Sunyi Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunyi-dean/)

> [The abuse of love, like the abuse of health, brings suffering and death in its train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-drouet/the-abuse-of-love-like-the-abuse-of-health-brings-suffering-and-death/)

[Juliette Drouet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-drouet/)

## More by Kate Elliott

> [“No greater bond existed than love sealed by trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/no-greater-bond-existed-than-love-sealed-by-trust/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [A man gets used to riding on at the break of day. Comes to think that movement and noise is where life is, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/a-man-gets-used-to-riding-on-at-the-break-of-day-comes-to-think-that/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [The history of the world begins with a seed. The seed is the kernel of what you are, but it is also the promise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/the-history-of-the-world-begins-with-a-seed-the-seed-is-the-kernel-of/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“I had not realized how much anger I held against my heart for all the people who use others as nothing more than tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/i-had-not-realized-how-much-anger-i-held-against-my-heart-for-all-the/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“All people are bound by ties and obligations, and the most binding ties of all are those between kin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/all-people-are-bound-by-ties-and-obligations-and-the-most-binding/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“Why do you ask me questions to which you already know the answer?" She tapped me on the arm with her painted fan. "To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/why-do-you-ask-me-questions-to-which-you-already-know-the-answer-she/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“But if the gods only cursed us, then we would hate them. And if they only blessed us, then—well, then we’d care nothing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/but-if-the-gods-only-cursed-us-then-we-would-hate-them-and-if-they/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“She spoke in a caustic tone that would surely have burned out anyone else's tongue had they attempted it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/she-spoke-in-a-caustic-tone-that-would-surely-have-burned-out-anyone/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“I am like you, Bloodheart,” he said, his voice hoarse; but his voice always was hoarse now, for he had survived worse injuries than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/i-am-like-you-bloodheart-he-said-his-voice-hoarse-but-his-voice/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“We don't have to accept the things we might change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/we-don-t-have-to-accept-the-things-we-might-change/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“Never let it be said that I could not talk my way out of any trouble that I could not punch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/never-let-it-be-said-that-i-could-not-talk-my-way-out-of-any-trouble/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [...because when beauty awes you, you must halt and try to catch your breath and your staggered heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/because-when-beauty-awes-you-you-must-halt-and-try-to-catch-your/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [Listen, my father had written. Listen to hear if they are telling the truth or only part of the truth, for that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/listen-my-father-had-written-listen-to-hear-if-they-are-telling-the/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [A kiss can be like the world turning over. It can be like the tide of a dragon's dream washing through the unseen world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/a-kiss-can-be-like-the-world-turning-over-it-can-be-like-the-tide-of/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

> [“Above all else, do not fear to climb the victory tower.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/above-all-else-do-not-fear-to-climb-the-victory-tower/)

[Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

[Explore all 47 Kate Elliott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

[J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/)

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

[Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/)

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If we prosper only through the suffering or death of another, then that is not prosperity.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kate Elliott"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering-or-death-of-another-then/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering-or-death-of-another-then/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/kate-elliott-14285_death_if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering_2179560.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/kate-elliott-14285_death_if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering_2179560.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/kate-elliott-14285_death_if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering_2179560.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we prosper only through the suffering or death of another, then that is not prosperity.” — Kate Elliott",
                "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": "Kate Elliott",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If we prosper only through the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering-or-death-of-another-then/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/if-we-prosper-only-through-the-suffering-or-death-of-another-then/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
