--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world would be better off if people…" description: "\"The world would be better off if people tried to become better, And people would become better if they stopped trying to be better off. For when everyo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/peter-maurin-37750_become-rich_the-world-would-be-better-off-if-people_1905452.jpg" --- # The world would be better off if people tried to become… ![“The world would be better off if people tried to become better, And people would become better if they stopped trying to be better off. For when everyone tries to become better off nobody is better off. But when everyone tries to become better everyone is better off. Everybody would be rich if…” quote by Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/peter-maurin-37750_become-rich_the-world-would-be-better-off-if-people_1905452.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/peter-maurin-37750_become-rich_the-world-would-be-better-off-if-people_1905452.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/peter-maurin-37750_become-rich_the-world-would-be-better-off-if-people_1905452.jpg) > “The world would be better off if people tried to become better, And people would become better if they stopped trying to be better off. For when everyone tries to become better off nobody is better off. But when everyone tries to become better everyone is better off. Everybody would be rich if nobody tried to become richer. And nobody would be poor if everybody tried to be the poorest And everybody would be what he ought to be if everybody tried to be what he wants the other fellow to be.” [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collective self-improvement benefits everyone, while selfish pursuits create disparity. **In simple terms:** Helping each other lifts all. Key Takeaway Focus on mutual growth rather than personal gain. Themes community ethics cooperation Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - teamwork - public policy - education reform Key Concepts social philosophy altruism Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to promote shared success? - How does personal gain affect community health? A Different Perspective Individual ambition can conflict with collective welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Become rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become-rich/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The world would be better off if people tried to become better. And people would become better if they stopped trying to become better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/the-world-would-be-better-off-if-people-tried-to-become-better-and/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [The world would become better off If people tried to become better. And people would become better If they stopped trying to become better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/the-world-would-become-better-off-if-people-tried-to-become-better/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [Everyone has changed, haven't they? Everyone tries to get better; everyone tries to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/everyone-has-changed-haven-t-they-everyone-tries-to-get-better/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [A Real Man just tries to better himself each and everyday. A man is about growth. Growth for greater purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-man-just-tries-to-better-himself-each-and-everyday-a-man-is/) Enhance Dreams > [Remember in life. People may be better than you. People may be worse than you. But noone as you, stay special. ^\_^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldyna-threesya/remember-in-life-people-may-be-better-than-you-people-may-be-worse/) [Aldyna Threesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldyna-threesya/) > [If people let other people alone, people would be better off. It's always people that screw things up for people anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/if-people-let-other-people-alone-people-would-be-better-off-it-s/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Management is the opportunity to help people become better people. Practiced that way, it's a magnificent profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/management-is-the-opportunity-to-help-people-become-better-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Internet is an excellent invention for people with nothing better to do, and people with something better to do who nonetheless don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-sledz/the-internet-is-an-excellent-invention-for-people-with-nothing-better/) Amanda Sledz > [We are working to help people become better people; then this will become a better world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-burrows/we-are-working-to-help-people-become-better-people-then-this-will/) [Eva Burrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-burrows/) > [There is one thing you have got to learn about our movement. Three people are better than no people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/there-is-one-thing-you-have-got-to-learn-about-our-movement-three/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [“I took another road, past the old sugar works and the water wheel that had not turned for years. I went to parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/i-took-another-road-past-the-old-sugar-works-and-the-water-wheel-that/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [American exceptionalism, in the broad sense, is not a bunch of braggadocious words people say, "Yeah, we're better people. We have a better country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/american-exceptionalism-in-the-broad-sense-is-not-a-bunch-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [What kind of people would be able to rationalize better than other people? Better storytellers, right? Creative people, right? Because if you're creative, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/what-kind-of-people-would-be-able-to-rationalize-better-than-other/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“The only people who get better are people who know that, if they never get better, God will love them anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-brown/the-only-people-who-get-better-are-people-who-know-that-if-they-never/) [Steve Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-brown/) > [We find as our interdependence increases that, on the whole, we do better when other people do better as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-find-as-our-interdependence-increases-that-on-the-whole-we-do/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) ## More by Peter Maurin > [In the first centuries of Christianity the hungry were fed at a personal sacrifice, the naked were clothed at a personal sacrifice, the homeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/in-the-first-centuries-of-christianity-the-hungry-were-fed-at-a/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [The world would be better off if people tried to become better. And people would become better if they stopped trying to become better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/the-world-would-be-better-off-if-people-tried-to-become-better-and/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [The world would become better off If people tried to become better. And people would become better If they stopped trying to become better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/the-world-would-become-better-off-if-people-tried-to-become-better/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [If we are crazy, then it is because we refuse to be crazy in the same way that the world has gone crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/if-we-are-crazy-then-it-is-because-we-refuse-to-be-crazy-in-the-same/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [The future will be different if we make the present different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/the-future-will-be-different-if-we-make-the-present-different/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [I want a change, and a radical change. I want a change from an acquisitive society to a functional society, from a society of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/i-want-a-change-and-a-radical-change-i-want-a-change-from-an/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [“Modern society calls the beggar bum and panhandler and gives him the bum's rush. But the Greeks used to say that people in need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/modern-society-calls-the-beggar-bum-and-panhandler-and-gives-him-the/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [The scholars must become workers so the workers may be scholars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/the-scholars-must-become-workers-so-the-workers-may-be-scholars/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [In the Catholic Worker we must try to have the voluntary poverty of St. Francis, the charity of St. Vincent de Paul, the intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/in-the-catholic-worker-we-must-try-to-have-the-voluntary-poverty-of/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [The coat that hangs in your closet belongs to the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/the-coat-that-hangs-in-your-closet-belongs-to-the-poor/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) > [What we give to the poor for Christ's sake, is what we carry with us when we die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurin/what-we-give-to-the-poor-for-christ-s-sake-is-what-we-carry-with-us/) [Peter Maurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) [Explore all 12 Peter Maurin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurin/) ## More Become rich quotes > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“A country with secure property rights, scientific inquiry and technological innovation will become richer. But, since division of labour is limited by the size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-wolf/a-country-with-secure-property-rights-scientific-inquiry-and/) [Martin Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-wolf/) > [There are people who want to become rich; they become rich. If you persist you can fulfill any kind of stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/there-are-people-who-want-to-become-rich-they-become-rich-if-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [You don't do an experimental film to become rich, so the people who are involved are involved because they enjoy the creative aspect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/you-don-t-do-an-experimental-film-to-become-rich-so-the-people-who/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [“If you care about other people, that's now a very dangerous idea. If you care about other people, you might try to organize to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-care-about-other-people-that-s-now-a-very-dangerous-idea-if/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [To become rich in no time is very easy. The only thing you have to do is to look at those who are poorer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-become-rich-in-no-time-is-very-easy-the-only-thing-you-have-to-do/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [No man can Become Rich without enriching others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/no-man-can-become-rich-without-enriching-others/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [Marrying to increase love is like gaming to become rich; alas, you only lose what little stock you had before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/marrying-to-increase-love-is-like-gaming-to-become-rich-alas-you-only/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Doing more and more with less and less is one form of being generous. In fact, the easiest way to become rich is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/doing-more-and-more-with-less-and-less-is-one-form-of-being-generous/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The greatest reward in becoming a millionaire is not the amount of money that you earn. It is the kind of person that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-reward-in-becoming-a-millionaire-is-not-the-amount-of/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I think it's weird when you become rich at 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-think-it-s-weird-when-you-become-rich-at-40/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [This is an absolute law: You've got to be rich inside to become and remain rich outside. Become rich inside and your mental equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/this-is-an-absolute-law-you-ve-got-to-be-rich-inside-to-become-and/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [He who wishes to become rich wishes to become so immediately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/he-who-wishes-to-become-rich-wishes-to-become-so-immediately/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Men become richer not only by increasing their existing wealth but also by decreasing their expenditure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/men-become-richer-not-only-by-increasing-their-existing-wealth-but/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) [Browse all 195 Become rich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become-rich/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world would be better off if people tried to become better, And people would become better if they stopped trying to be better off. 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