--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The lust of avarice as so totally seized…" description: "\"The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.\" — Pliny the Elder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/pliny-the-elder-2838_avarice_the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized_1208369.png" --- # The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that… ![“The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.” quote by Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/pliny-the-elder-2838_avarice_the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized_1208369.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/pliny-the-elder-2838_avarice_the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized_1208369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/pliny-the-elder-2838_avarice_the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized_1208369.png) > “The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.” [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avarice dominates people, making them feel owned by wealth rather than owners of it. **In simple terms:** Greed makes people slaves to their possessions. Key Takeaway Beware letting wealth control you. Themes greed wealth control human nature Mood cautionary analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - investment decisions - personal budgeting - corporate ethics - political policy Key Concepts materialism psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What habits can reduce material obsession? - How can societies balance wealth accumulation and personal freedom? A Different Perspective Wealth can also empower positive change when managed wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/honesty-is-the-rarest-wealth-anyone-can-possess/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [This is the greatest wealth we possess: to know how to direct our labors rightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/this-is-the-greatest-wealth-we-possess-to-know-how-to-direct-our/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [We are, after all, only trustees of the wealth we possess. Without the community and its resources... there would be little wealth for anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/we-are-after-all-only-trustees-of-the-wealth-we-possess-without-the/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [No matter how much wealth you possess, how huge your bank account is, there's one thing you'll never be able to buy: inner peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/no-matter-how-much-wealth-you-possess-how-huge-your-bank-account-is/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [Men are always enslaved by material abundance and wealth, and the more they possess, the greedier they become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/men-are-always-enslaved-by-material-abundance-and-wealth-and-the-more/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [“People who are free to choose will choose the best use for whatever it is they possess. Wealth and prosperity begin with the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/people-who-are-free-to-choose-will-choose-the-best-use-for-whatever/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [He does not possess wealth; it possesses him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-does-not-possess-wealth-it-possesses-him/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [What a rare gift, by the by, is that of manners! how difficult to define, how much more difficult to impart! Better for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/what-a-rare-gift-by-the-by-is-that-of-manners-how-difficult-to-define/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The wealthy seldom possess wealth: oftener they are possessed by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-panin/the-wealthy-seldom-possess-wealth-oftener-they-are-possessed-by-it/) [Ivan Panin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-panin/) > [Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they possess, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/rich-people-should-consider-that-they-are-only-trustees-for-what-they/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The few men who possess the wealth of the material things of the earth at the present time are not truly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-franklin-rutherford/the-few-men-who-possess-the-wealth-of-the-material-things-of-the/) [Joseph Franklin Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-franklin-rutherford/) > [“You may not possess a body that everyone want to admire. You may not possess wealth that everyone want to have. However you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-d-gonsalves/you-may-not-possess-a-body-that-everyone-want-to-admire-you-may-not/) [Gloria D. Gonsalves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-d-gonsalves/) > [If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/if-money-be-not-thy-servant-it-will-be-thy-master-the-covetous-man/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [It requires more than a day's devotion to know and to possess the wealth of a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-requires-more-than-a-day-s-devotion-to-know-and-to-possess-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/not-to-share-our-own-wealth-with-the-poor-is-theft-from-the-poor-and/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## More by Pliny the Elder > [Simple diet is best: for many dishes bring many diseases, and rich sauces are worse than even heaping several meats upon each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/simple-diet-is-best-for-many-dishes-bring-many-diseases-and-rich/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Amid the sufferings of life on earth, suicide is God's best gift to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/amid-the-sufferings-of-life-on-earth-suicide-is-god-s-best-gift-to-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The happier the moment the shorter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-happier-the-moment-the-shorter/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/indeed-what-is-there-that-does-not-appear-marvelous-when-it-comes-to/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Accustom yourself to master and overcome things of difficulty; for if you observe, the left hand for want of practice is insignificant, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/accustom-yourself-to-master-and-overcome-things-of-difficulty-for-if/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [As land is improved by sowing it with various seeds, so is the mind by exercising it with different studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/as-land-is-improved-by-sowing-it-with-various-seeds-so-is-the-mind-by/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [True happiness consists in being considered deserving of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/true-happiness-consists-in-being-considered-deserving-of-it/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The largest land animal is the elephant, and it is the nearest to man in intelligence: it understands the language of its country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-largest-land-animal-is-the-elephant-and-it-is-the-nearest-to-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Many dishes bring many diseases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/many-dishes-bring-many-diseases/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [In the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities will often be found concealed under a rustic garb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/in-the-literary-as-well-as-military-world-most-powerful-abilities/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Man naturally yearns for novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/man-naturally-yearns-for-novelty/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [With man, most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/with-man-most-of-his-misfortunes-are-occasioned-by-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Better do nothing than do ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/better-do-nothing-than-do-ill/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [It is this earth that, like a kind mother, receives us at our birth, and sustains us when born; it is this alone, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/it-is-this-earth-that-like-a-kind-mother-receives-us-at-our-birth-and/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [His only fault is that he has no fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/his-only-fault-is-that-he-has-no-fault/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) [Explore all 147 Pliny the Elder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) ## More Avarice quotes > [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pcanet, and other powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/where-today-are-the-pequot-where-are-the-narragansett-the-mohican-the/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Where poverty ceases, avarice begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/where-poverty-ceases-avarice-begins/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/five-enemies-of-peace-inhabit-with-us-avarice-ambition-envy-anger-and/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > ['Maneater' is about N.Y.C. in the '80s. It's about greed, avarice, and spoiled riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/maneater-is-about-n-y-c-in-the-80s-it-s-about-greed-avarice-and/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Riches with their wicked inducements increase; nevertheless, avarice is never satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/riches-with-their-wicked-inducements-increase-nevertheless-avarice-is/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-virtue-is-banished-ambition-invades-the-minds-of-those-who-are/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the arms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-is-always-in-a-hurry-to-be-wealthy-and-immersed-in-the-study/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Goodness is weakness, pleasantness is poisonous, serenity is mediocrity and kindness is for losers. The best reason for committing loathsome and detestable acts –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/goodness-is-weakness-pleasantness-is-poisonous-serenity-is-mediocrity/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) [Browse all 318 Avarice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pliny the Elder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized-upon-mankind-that-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Avarice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized-upon-mankind-that-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/pliny-the-elder-2838_avarice_the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized_1208369.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/pliny-the-elder-2838_avarice_the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized_1208369.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/pliny-the-elder-2838_avarice_the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized_1208369.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than…” — Pliny the Elder", "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": "Pliny the Elder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The lust of avarice as so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized-upon-mankind-that-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-lust-of-avarice-as-so-totally-seized-upon-mankind-that-their/#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 } } ] } ```