--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Riches for the most part are hurtful to…" description: "\"Riches for the most part are hurtful to them that possess them.\" — Plutarch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/plutarch-597_greed_riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to_2484898.jpg" --- # Riches for the most part are hurtful to them that possess… ![“Riches for the most part are hurtful to them that possess them.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/plutarch-597_greed_riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to_2484898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/plutarch-597_greed_riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to_2484898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/plutarch-597_greed_riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to_2484898.jpg) > “Riches for the most part are hurtful to them that possess them.” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth often brings distress to its holder, suggesting that riches can be a source of suffering. **In simple terms:** Riches can cause pain. Key Takeaway Beware of wealth’s hidden costs. Themes wealth pain possessiveness contentment Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - investment decisions - inheritance - status seeking - personal finance Key Concepts materialism psychology of wealth philosophy of happiness Questions to Reflect On - Does wealth always harm its owner? - How can one use wealth health? A Different Perspective Wealth can also enable generosity and security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Hurtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurtful/) [Hurtful Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurtful-possess-903924/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Riches Hurtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches-hurtful-903923/) ## Related quotes > [These riches are possess'd, but not enjoy'd!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/these-riches-are-possess-d-but-not-enjoy-d/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [What is it worth to possess the riches of the world, when a man comes to face Eternity?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-studd/what-is-it-worth-to-possess-the-riches-of-the-world-when-a-man-comes/) [Charles Studd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-studd/) > [The giving of riches and honors to a wicked man is like giving strong wine to him that hath a fever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-giving-of-riches-and-honors-to-a-wicked-man-is-like-giving-strong/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The Emperor himself amassed his great riches. The older he grew, the greater became his greed, his pitiable cupidity... he and his people took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/the-emperor-himself-amassed-his-great-riches-the-older-he-grew-the/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [Success always calls for greater generosity - though most people, lost in the darkness of their own egos, treat it as an occasion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-the-great/success-always-calls-for-greater-generosity-though-most-people-lost/) [Cyrus the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-the-great/) > [The rich are like beasts of burden, carrying treasure all day, and at the night of death unladen; they carry to their grave only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-rich-are-like-beasts-of-burden-carrying-treasure-all-day-and-at/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [We are assailed by the temptation of the love of money. If you wish to acquire riches ? they are the bait of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pachomius-the-great/we-are-assailed-by-the-temptation-of-the-love-of-money-if-you-wish-to/) [Pachomius the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pachomius-the-great/) > [There is a burden of care in getting riches; fear in keeping them; temptation in using them; guilt in abusing them; sorrow in losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/there-is-a-burden-of-care-in-getting-riches-fear-in-keeping-them/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > ['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/) > [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [An Internet 'relationship' doesn't have to be catastrophically harmful to be inappropriate. Hurtful is bad enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/an-internet-relationship-doesn-t-have-to-be-catastrophically-harmful/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [How do most boys kno how to hurt a girl so bad to the point where they think theres no reason for me 2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanell/how-do-most-boys-kno-how-to-hurt-a-girl-so-bad-to-the-point-where/) [Shanell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanell/) > [Someone on the internet referred to me as 'that horrible little man who's replacing Rob Lowe', which is hurtful, because I think of myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/someone-on-the-internet-referred-to-me-as-that-horrible-little-man/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [It is less hurtful to compel a man to marry someone whom he does not love than to follow a religion in which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-less-hurtful-to-compel-a-man-to-marry-someone-whom-he-does-not/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Greed quotes > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“The fact that they viewed their wealth as a result of their own hands, without any honor other than lip service being given to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goff/the-fact-that-they-viewed-their-wealth-as-a-result-of-their-own-hands/) [Lee Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goff/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [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/) > [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Who does not know that kings and rulers sprang from men who were ignorant of God, who assumed because of blind greed and intolerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-vii/who-does-not-know-that-kings-and-rulers-sprang-from-men-who-were/) [Pope Gregory VII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-vii/) > [''And one day when all is gone and mankind is lost, all he leaves is the desert.'' ''For man is his own demise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/and-one-day-when-all-is-gone-and-mankind-is-lost-all-he-leaves-is-the/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“Wisdom teaches us that our real enemies are never other living beings. They are ignorance and its minions, including greed, hatred, anger, pride, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-newland/wisdom-teaches-us-that-our-real-enemies-are-never-other-living-beings/) [Guy Newland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-newland/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [The universe appears to me like an immense, inexorable torture-garden…Passions, greed, hatred, and lies; social institutions, justice, love, glory, heroism, and religion: these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/the-universe-appears-to-me-like-an-immense-inexorable-torture-garden/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“Thankfulness acknowledges that we can’t own anything, but we can experience everything. And just knowing that makes me thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-acknowledges-that-we-can-t-own-anything-but-we-can/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Con men look for human frailty to exploit. This is most often greed. Trump found a different vice: anger. The emotional are always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/con-men-look-for-human-frailty-to-exploit-this-is-most-often-greed/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) [Browse all 2,232 Greed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Riches for the most part are hurtful to them that possess them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to-them-that-possess-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Greed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to-them-that-possess-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/plutarch-597_greed_riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to_2484898.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/plutarch-597_greed_riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to_2484898.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/plutarch-597_greed_riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to_2484898.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Riches for the most part are hurtful to them that possess them.” — Plutarch", "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": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Riches for the most part are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to-them-that-possess-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/riches-for-the-most-part-are-hurtful-to-them-that-possess-them/#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 } } ] } ```