--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned about forty years ago that…" description: "\"I learned about forty years ago that money and things wouldn't make people happy. And this has been confirmed many times. I have met many millionaires...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/peace-pilgrim-1191_common_i-learned-about-forty-years-ago-that-mon_2547195.jpg" --- # I learned about forty years ago that money and things… ![“I learned about forty years ago that money and things wouldn't make people happy. And this has been confirmed many times. I have met many millionaires. They had one thing in common. None of them were happy…I realize that if you don't have enough you won't be happy. Neither are you happy if you…” quote by Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/peace-pilgrim-1191_common_i-learned-about-forty-years-ago-that-mon_2547195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/peace-pilgrim-1191_common_i-learned-about-forty-years-ago-that-mon_2547195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/peace-pilgrim-1191_common_i-learned-about-forty-years-ago-that-mon_2547195.jpg) > “I learned about forty years ago that money and things wouldn't make people happy. And this has been confirmed many times. I have met many millionaires. They had one thing in common. None of them were happy…I realize that if you don't have enough you won't be happy. Neither are you happy if you have too much. It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest.” [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth beyond a moderate amount does not guarantee happiness; excess or scarcity both hinder contentment. **In simple terms:** Too much or too little wealth harms happiness. Key Takeaway Seek balance, not excess. Themes happiness wealth moderation Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal finance - career planning - relationships - mental health Key Concepts contentment psychology well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What defines “enough” for you? - How can you cultivate happiness beyond material gain? A Different Perspective Excess can bring stress and isolation, offsetting benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Making people happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-people-happy/) [Millionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millionaire/) [Millionaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millionaires/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [There are about 300,000 neighborhoods in the United States, and more than half of them have at least one millionaire living there. Most millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/there-are-about-300-000-neighborhoods-in-the-united-states-and-more/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [Of course, you don't have to have a degree to be rich. You just have to have ideas. Maybe having a degree sets you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-wilde/of-course-you-don-t-have-to-have-a-degree-to-be-rich-you-just-have-to/) [Stuart Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-wilde/) > [Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/ninety-percent-of-all-millionaires-become-so-through-owning-real/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The millionaires are a product of natural selection ... the naturally selected agents of society for certain work. They get high wages and live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-millionaires-are-a-product-of-natural-selection-the-naturally/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [People don't want to be millionaires - they want to experience what they believe only millions can buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/people-don-t-want-to-be-millionaires-they-want-to-experience-what/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [Always be eager to learn, no matter how successful you might already be. In the Millionaires' Club, we sometimes invite a billionaire to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/always-be-eager-to-learn-no-matter-how-successful-you-might-already/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I think that we're just too invested in that myth that we are not connected, and are all potential millionaires if only we put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-think-that-we-re-just-too-invested-in-that-myth-that-we-are-not/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [This game has taken a lot of guys over the years who would have had to work in factories and gas stations and made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/this-game-has-taken-a-lot-of-guys-over-the-years-who-would-have-had/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Millionaire models are rare enough; but, by Jove, model millionaires are rarer still!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/millionaire-models-are-rare-enough-but-by-jove-model-millionaires-are/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I do not know how wicked American millionaires are, but as I travel about and see the results of their generosity in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-phelps/i-do-not-know-how-wicked-american-millionaires-are-but-as-i-travel/) [William Lyon Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-phelps/) > [Are your desires purely selfish? Do your tastes run to a grand home, automobiles, fine clothes, an abundance of amusements, and so forth? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/are-your-desires-purely-selfish-do-your-tastes-run-to-a-grand-home/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [If the present tax rates had been in effect from the beginning of our century, many who are millionaires today would live under more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-present-tax-rates-had-been-in-effect-from-the-beginning-of-our/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Ten million new millionaires will be created by 2016, and you can become one of them--especiall y if you are in direct selling, technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zane-pilzer/ten-million-new-millionaires-will-be-created-by-2016-and-you-can/) [Paul Zane Pilzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zane-pilzer/) > [I think it's quite difficult to understand what kind of life a writer leads. They might be millionaires, or they might be starving people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-think-it-s-quite-difficult-to-understand-what-kind-of-life-a-writer/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [Chelsea's players, coaches and agents are now football's wealthiest millionaires. Surely the billions taken from the Russian people by an oligarch in questionable privatisations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/chelsea-s-players-coaches-and-agents-are-now-football-s-wealthiest/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) ## More by Peace Pilgrim > [The motive, if you are to find inner peace, must be an outgoing motive. Service, of course-service. Giving, not getting. Your motive must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/the-motive-if-you-are-to-find-inner-peace-must-be-an-outgoing-motive/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Knowing that all things contrary to God's laws are transient, let us avoid despair and radiate hope for a warless world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/knowing-that-all-things-contrary-to-god-s-laws-are-transient-let-us/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I wish that every child could have growing space because I think children are a little like plants. If they grow too close together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-wish-that-every-child-could-have-growing-space-because-i-think/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [All of us can work for peace. We can work right where we are, right within ourselves, because the more peace we have within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/all-of-us-can-work-for-peace-we-can-work-right-where-we-are-right/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [As I lived up to the highest light I had, higher and higher light came to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/as-i-lived-up-to-the-highest-light-i-had-higher-and-higher-light-came/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If you realize that those who do mean things are psychologically ill, your feelings of anger will turn to feelings of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-realize-that-those-who-do-mean-things-are-psychologically-ill/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If you give your life as a prayer, you intensify the prayer beyond all measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-give-your-life-as-a-prayer-you-intensify-the-prayer-beyond-all/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If we fear nothing and radiate love, we can expect good things to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-we-fear-nothing-and-radiate-love-we-can-expect-good-things-to-come/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Be willing to face life squarely and get down beneath the surface of life where the verities and realities are to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/be-willing-to-face-life-squarely-and-get-down-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When societies are out of harmony, problems develop within the society - collective problems. Their purpose is to push the whole society toward harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-societies-are-out-of-harmony-problems-develop-within-the-society/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/unnecessary-possessions-are-unnecessary-burdens/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When you feel the need for a spiritual lift, try getting to bed early and get up early to have a quiet time at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-you-feel-the-need-for-a-spiritual-lift-try-getting-to-bed-early/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/this-is-the-way-of-peace-overcome-evil-with-good-falsehood-with-truth/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [For light I go directly to the Source of light, not to any of the reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/for-light-i-go-directly-to-the-source-of-light-not-to-any-of-the/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I would like to mention some preparations that were required of me. 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This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-would-like-to-mention-some-preparations-that-were-required-of-me/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) [Explore all 276 Peace Pilgrim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. 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