---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not wrong to want to live better…"
description: "\"It is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong is a style of life which is presumed to be better when it is directed towards 'having' rather tha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/pope-john-paul-i-27248_ends_it-is-not-wrong-to-want-to-live-better-w_2656375.png"
---

#  It is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong is a…

![“It is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong is a style of life which is presumed to be better when it is directed towards 'having' rather than 'being,' and which wants to have more, not in order to be more but in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself.” quote by Pope John Paul I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/pope-john-paul-i-27248_ends_it-is-not-wrong-to-want-to-live-better-w_2656375.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/pope-john-paul-i-27248_ends_it-is-not-wrong-to-want-to-live-better-w_2656375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/pope-john-paul-i-27248_ends_it-is-not-wrong-to-want-to-live-better-w_2656375.png)

> “It is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong is a style of life which is presumed to be better when it is directed towards 'having' rather than 'being,' and which wants to have more, not in order to be more but in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself.”

[Pope John Paul I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-i/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Living for “having” is wrong; focus on “being” and enjoying life itself.

**In simple terms:** Prioritize being over having.

Key Takeaway

Seek fulfillment through existence, not possession.

Themes

materialism existentialism values

Mood

reflective serene

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal finance
- spiritual practice
- lifestyle choices

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics well‑being

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “being” mean for you?
- How to balance desire and contentment?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressure may push materialism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-wrong-1150103/) [End Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-life/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-enjoyment-2095460/) [Live better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-better/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Spend Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-life/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/)

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## More by Pope John Paul I

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