--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one has one cow, it is always better…" description: "\"If one has one cow, it is always better not to be too familiar with those who have seven.\" — Phyllis Bottome" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/phyllis-bottome-8036_cows_if-one-has-one-cow-it-is-always-better-n_2206329.jpg" --- # If one has one cow, it is always better not to be too… ![“If one has one cow, it is always better not to be too familiar with those who have seven.” quote by Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/phyllis-bottome-8036_cows_if-one-has-one-cow-it-is-always-better-n_2206329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/phyllis-bottome-8036_cows_if-one-has-one-cow-it-is-always-better-n_2206329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/phyllis-bottome-8036_cows_if-one-has-one-cow-it-is-always-better-n_2206329.jpg) > “If one has one cow, it is always better not to be too familiar with those who have seven.” [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having modest means protects you from envy toward those with far greater wealth. **In simple terms:** Stay modest, avoid envy. Key Takeaway Value simplicity over comparison. Themes humility comparison wealth Mood contemplative steady Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal finance - community building - friendship - self‑esteem Key Concepts Social psychology ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure success beyond wealth? - What practices keep you grounded? A Different Perspective Even modest people can feel envy; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-familiar-4866983/) [Cow Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cow-better-4866982/) [Cows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cows/) [Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar/) [Familiar Seven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar-seven-4866981/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich and poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-and-poor/) [Seven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven/) ## Related quotes > [Heifer cow is better than none, but this is no time for puns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/heifer-cow-is-better-than-none-but-this-is-no-time-for-puns/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Italy is divided between us and them, rich and poor, north and south, young and old, employed and unemployed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romano-prodi/italy-is-divided-between-us-and-them-rich-and-poor-north-and-south/) [Romano Prodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romano-prodi/) > [The wealthy class often looks down on the poor as "those people." 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Live to love and love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fortune-without-love-the-sonnet-fortune-without-love-is-sheer-curse/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Although per capita income doubled during the half-century, not all sectors of society shared equally in this abundance. While both rich and poor enjoyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/although-per-capita-income-doubled-during-the-half-century-not-all/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [Excuses cost a dime and that's why the poor could afford a lot of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/excuses-cost-a-dime-and-that-s-why-the-poor-could-afford-a-lot-of-it/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“Elisabeth had been listening to the programme in the bath. She'd switched the radio off after it and wondered if she'd be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-smith/elisabeth-had-been-listening-to-the-programme-in-the-bath-she-d/) [Ali Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-smith/) > [The greatest secret of winners is that failure inspires winning; thus, they are not afraid of losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-greatest-secret-of-winners-is-that-failure-inspires-winning-thus/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [We are all equal, rich and poor, and we need a society where the people enjoy their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/we-are-all-equal-rich-and-poor-and-we-need-a-society-where-the-people/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) > [From drought-parched Brazil to the increasingly ice-free Arctic Ocean, from the rising seas along the Florida coast to the punishing heat waves hitting South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-deese/from-drought-parched-brazil-to-the-increasingly-ice-free-arctic-ocean/) [Brian Deese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-deese/) ## More by Phyllis Bottome > [Jane had that happy disposition which would like to imagine that every one really wishes the well-being of his neighbour and struggles, though sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/jane-had-that-happy-disposition-which-would-like-to-imagine-that/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Neither situations nor people can be altered by the interference of an outsider. If they are to be altered, that alteration must come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/neither-situations-nor-people-can-be-altered-by-the-interference-of/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Every hen thinks she has laid the best egg! Can we not all believe as we choose? But the choice of others - what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/every-hen-thinks-she-has-laid-the-best-egg-can-we-not-all-believe-as/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [If money had been the way to save the world, Christ himself would have been rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/if-money-had-been-the-way-to-save-the-world-christ-himself-would-have/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [When you know a person particularly well, you cannot escape their ruffled feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/when-you-know-a-person-particularly-well-you-cannot-escape-their/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Poets, when they write of love, give themselves and everyone else away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/poets-when-they-write-of-love-give-themselves-and-everyone-else-away/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [death ... is not a great affair! Think - it happens once only - to each of us - as birth does. What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/death-is-not-a-great-affair-think-it-happens-once-only-to-each-of-us/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Taboos on the human heart are more dangerous than any risk we run by using our emotions. Sensation is the life of man; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/taboos-on-the-human-heart-are-more-dangerous-than-any-risk-we-run-by/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [... one pets what one degrades; and one has to support what one has enfeebled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/one-pets-what-one-degrades-and-one-has-to-support-what-one-has/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Truth is no man's slave - but lies - what magnificent servants they make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/truth-is-no-man-s-slave-but-lies-what-magnificent-servants-they-make/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Marriage! ... Why, it is like living in a thimble with a hippopotamus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/marriage-why-it-is-like-living-in-a-thimble-with-a-hippopotamus/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Anger is like mild, it should not be kept too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/anger-is-like-mild-it-should-not-be-kept-too-long/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [People who talk of new lives believe there will be no new troubles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/people-who-talk-of-new-lives-believe-there-will-be-no-new-troubles/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [All persecution is a sign of fear; for if we did not fear the power of an opinion different from our own, we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/all-persecution-is-a-sign-of-fear-for-if-we-did-not-fear-the-power-of/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Love comes into your being like a tidal wave ... sometimes it withdraws like a wave, till there isn't such a thing as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/love-comes-into-your-being-like-a-tidal-wave-sometimes-it-withdraws/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) [Explore all 85 Phyllis Bottome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) ## More Cows quotes > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Cows are a lot smarter across the board than bulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/cows-are-a-lot-smarter-across-the-board-than-bulls/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [ Gonna rain like a cow pissin' on a flat rock" \[drugstore clerk to detective Virgil Flowers\] Dark of the Moon, p.7 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/gonna-rain-like-a-cow-pissin-on-a-flat-rock-drugstore-clerk-to/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [In most agencies, account executives outnumber the copywriters two to one. If you were a dairy farmer, would you employ twice as many milkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/in-most-agencies-account-executives-outnumber-the-copywriters-two-to/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [My dad's idea of punishment was to dress me up in all green to disguise me as grass, and then throw me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-callen/my-dad-s-idea-of-punishment-was-to-dress-me-up-in-all-green-to/) [Bryan Callen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-callen/) > [To isolate mathematics from the practical demands of the sciences is to invite the sterility of a cow shut away from the bulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pafnuty-chebyshev/to-isolate-mathematics-from-the-practical-demands-of-the-sciences-is/) [Pafnuty Chebyshev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pafnuty-chebyshev/) > [Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/sometimes-you-look-in-a-field-and-you-see-a-cow-and-you-think-it-s-a/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The thing that bothers me the most is the recklessness and greed of the local ranchers, who run too many cattle back here, choking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/the-thing-that-bothers-me-the-most-is-the-recklessness-and-greed-of/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Spring comes with joyous laugh, and song, and sunshine, and the burnt sacrifice of the over-ripe boot and the hoary overshoe. 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