--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Covetousness is the greatest misfortune…" description: "\"Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/laozi-147_covetousness_covetousness-is-the-greatest-misfortune_632208.jpg" --- # Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not… ![“Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/laozi-147_covetousness_covetousness-is-the-greatest-misfortune_632208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/laozi-147_covetousness_covetousness-is-the-greatest-misfortune_632208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/laozi-147_covetousness_covetousness-is-the-greatest-misfortune_632208.jpg) > “Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.” [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Covetousness leads to perpetual dissatisfaction; recognizing sufficiency brings peace. **In simple terms:** Greed prevents contentment; knowing enough brings peace. Key Takeaway Practice gratitude and recognize sufficiency. Themes greed contentment philosophy balance wisdom Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - financial planning - personal relationships - mental health - spiritual practice Key Concepts Taoism ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure “enough”? - What practices foster contentment? A Different Perspective Excess can sometimes drive innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Covetousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covetousness/) [Covetousness Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covetousness-greatest-2772346/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Greatest Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-misfortune-486903/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) [Misfortune Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune-does-2721220/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) ## Related quotes > [Covetousness is the greatest of monsters, as well as the root of all evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/covetousness-is-the-greatest-of-monsters-as-well-as-the-root-of-all/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Misfortune does not help us to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/misfortune-does-not-help-us-to-believe/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [To love a fool is a misfortune, but does not make one a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/to-love-a-fool-is-a-misfortune-but-does-not-make-one-a-fool/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Tis the greatest misfortune in nature for a woman to want a confidant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-farquhar/tis-the-greatest-misfortune-in-nature-for-a-woman-to-want-a-confidant/) [George Farquhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-farquhar/) > [Whoever gives nothing, has nothing. The greatest misfortune is not to be unloved, but not to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/whoever-gives-nothing-has-nothing-the-greatest-misfortune-is-not-to/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“He who cannot stand misfortune does not deserve good fortune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-the-great/he-who-cannot-stand-misfortune-does-not-deserve-good-fortune/) [Frederick the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-the-great/) > [“Consciousness is man's greatest misfortune, still I know that man loves it and will not exchange it for any satisfactions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dostoyevsky/consciousness-is-man-s-greatest-misfortune-still-i-know-that-man/) [Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dostoyevsky/) > [“Favor and disgrace make one fearful The greatest misfortune is the self”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-lin/favor-and-disgrace-make-one-fearful-the-greatest-misfortune-is-the/) [Derek Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-lin/) > [Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-greatest-misfortune-is-standing/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Heaven forbid! -- That would be the greatest misfortune of all! -- To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/heaven-forbid-that-would-be-the-greatest-misfortune-of-all-to-find-a/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Misfortune is the root of good fortune; good fortune gives birth to misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/misfortune-is-the-root-of-good-fortune-good-fortune-gives-birth-to/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“He does love prophesying a misfortune, does the average British ghost. Send him out to prognosticate trouble to somebody, and he is happy. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-does-love-prophesying-a-misfortune-does-the-average-british-ghost/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“Karma has been a pop culture term for ages. But really, what the heck is it? Karma is not an inviolate engine of cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/karma-has-been-a-pop-culture-term-for-ages-but-really-what-the-heck/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [“Rizal's greatest misfortune is being national hero of the Philippines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambeth-ocampo/rizal-s-greatest-misfortune-is-being-national-hero-of-the-philippines/) [Ambeth Ocampo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambeth-ocampo/) > [Instead of giving in to the greatest misfortune that can happen at my age, deafness, I busy myself in searching out all possible compensations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/instead-of-giving-in-to-the-greatest-misfortune-that-can-happen-at-my/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## More by Laozi > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-the-sage-wants-to-stand-above-people-he-must-speak-to-them-from/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/goodie-goodies-are-the-thieves-of-virtue/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-that-humbles-himself-shall-be-preserved-entire-he-that-bends-shall/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-the-sage-is-to-act-but-not-to-compete/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-nonstriving-savor-the-flavorless-regard-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/without-looking-through-the-window-you-can-see-heaven-s-way/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-s-the-difference-between-beautiful-and-ugly/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-stillness-the-muddied-water-returns-to-clarity/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-the-sage-is-good-to-those-who-are-good-he-is-also-good-to-those/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-is-a-thing-inherent-and-natural-which-existed-before-heaven-and/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-is-a-good-man-but-a-bad-man-s-teacher-what-is-a-bad-man-but-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Explore all 1,140 Laozi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More Covetousness quotes > [There are three things against which the wise man guards: lust when young, quarrels when strong, and covetousness when old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-are-three-things-against-which-the-wise-man-guards-lust-when/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Let us avoid debt as we would avoid a plague...Let every head of every household see to it that he has on hand enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/let-us-avoid-debt-as-we-would-avoid-a-plague-let-every-head-of-every/) [J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/) > [Perfect love is to feeling what perfect white is to color. Many think that white is the absence of color. It is not. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perfect-love-is-to-feeling-what-perfect-white-is-to-color-many-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we are to say no to covetousness, we must learn to say yes to contentment. This involves learning to be content with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/if-we-are-to-say-no-to-covetousness-we-must-learn-to-say-yes-to/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [There are four Powers: memory and intellect, desire and covetousness. The two first are mental and the others sensual. The three senses: sight, hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/there-are-four-powers-memory-and-intellect-desire-and-covetousness/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [I have heard thousands of confessions, but never one of covetousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-xavier/i-have-heard-thousands-of-confessions-but-never-one-of-covetousness/) [Francis Xavier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-xavier/) > [It was with good reason that God commanded through Moses that the vineyard and harvest were not to be gleaned to the last grape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-with-good-reason-that-god-commanded-through-moses-that-the/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The evils of the body are murder, theft, and adultery; of the tongue, lying, slander, abuse and idle talk; of the mind, covetousness, hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-evils-of-the-body-are-murder-theft-and-adultery-of-the-tongue/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Covetousness, anger and foolishness are things to sort out well. When bad things happen in the world, if you look at them comparatively, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/covetousness-anger-and-foolishness-are-things-to-sort-out-well-when/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [The Word says, ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world’ (1 John 2:15). Jesus warned, ‘Beware of covetousness: for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/the-word-says-love-not-the-world-neither-the-things-that-are-in-the/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [While it is undeniable that many have been driven to immorality and crime by the need to survive, it is equally evident that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/while-it-is-undeniable-that-many-have-been-driven-to-immorality-and/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Bare-faced covetousness was the moving spirit of civilization from its first dawn to the present day; wealth, and again wealth, and for the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-engels/bare-faced-covetousness-was-the-moving-spirit-of-civilization-from/) [Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-engels/) > [By Jove, I am not covetous for gold, Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; It yearns me not if me my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/by-jove-i-am-not-covetous-for-gold-nor-care-i-who-doth-feed-upon-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Look at them. There are your true philosophers. I think that Mack and the boys know everything that has ever happened in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/look-at-them-there-are-your-true-philosophers-i-think-that-mack-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Other passions have objects to flatter them, and seem to content and satisfy them for a while; there is power in ambition, pleasure in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/other-passions-have-objects-to-flatter-them-and-seem-to-content-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Browse all 126 Covetousness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covetousness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. 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