--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Riches are of no value in themselves…" description: "\"Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is discovered only in that which they procure.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/samuel-johnson-50_money_riches-are-of-no-value-in-themselves-the_856573.png" --- # Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is… ![“Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is discovered only in that which they procure.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/samuel-johnson-50_money_riches-are-of-no-value-in-themselves-the_856573.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/samuel-johnson-50_money_riches-are-of-no-value-in-themselves-the_856573.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/samuel-johnson-50_money_riches-are-of-no-value-in-themselves-the_856573.png) > “Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is discovered only in that which they procure.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth's worth lies in what it enables, not in the money itself. **In simple terms:** Money is valuable only for what it can get. Key Takeaway Focus on what wealth can achieve, not its accumulation. Themes wealth utility purpose Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - personal finance - philanthropy - business investment - resource allocation Key Concepts economics value theory instrumentalism Questions to Reflect On - What do you truly need money for? - How can you use resources to serve higher goals? A Different Perspective Wealth can become a trap if pursued for its own sake. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Riches Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches-value-807380/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-discovered-807381/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) [Value Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-use-548226/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Riches get their value from the mind of the possessor; they are blessings to those who know how to use them, and curses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/riches-get-their-value-from-the-mind-of-the-possessor-they-are/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [We want to get full value out of labour so that we may be able to pay it full value. It is use -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/we-want-to-get-full-value-out-of-labour-so-that-we-may-be-able-to-pay/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Of course, it is worth it to take the time to think carefully through your assumptions, and ensure you at least have hypotheses around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/of-course-it-is-worth-it-to-take-the-time-to-think-carefully-through/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [“Use .. to make a range that omits its upper value, and use ... to make a range that includes both values.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/use-to-make-a-range-that-omits-its-upper-value-and-use-to-make-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we can't respect the way we earn it, money has no value. If we can't use it to make life better for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/if-we-can-t-respect-the-way-we-earn-it-money-has-no-value-if-we-can-t/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [You cannot give everyone more in cash market value than you take from him, but you can give him more in use value than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/you-cannot-give-everyone-more-in-cash-market-value-than-you-take-from/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [“Why do we own so many things when we don’t need them? What is their purpose? I think the answer is quite clear: We’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-sasaki/why-do-we-own-so-many-things-when-we-don-t-need-them-what-is-their/) [Fumio Sasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-sasaki/) > [The hostility perpetually exercised between one man and another, is caused by the desire of many for that which only few can possess. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-hostility-perpetually-exercised-between-one-man-and-another-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [One cause, which is not always observed, of the insufficiency of riches, is that they very seldom make their owner rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/one-cause-which-is-not-always-observed-of-the-insufficiency-of-riches/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Men who could willingly resign the luxuries and sensual pleasures of a large fortune cannot consent to live without the grandeur and the homage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/men-who-could-willingly-resign-the-luxuries-and-sensual-pleasures-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Working for your boss doesn’t make you rich, it only makes your boss richer from your sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/working-for-your-boss-doesn-t-make-you-rich-it-only-makes-your-boss/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Modern societies accepted the treasures and the power offered them by science. But they have not accepted - they have scarcely even heard -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-monod/modern-societies-accepted-the-treasures-and-the-power-offered-them-by/) [Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-monod/) > [Do not value money for any more nor any less than its worth; it is a good servant but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alexandre-dumas/do-not-value-money-for-any-more-nor-any-less-than-its-worth-it-is-a/) [Thomas-Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alexandre-dumas/) > [The liberty of the press is a blessing when we are inclined to write against others, and a calamity when we find ourselves overborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-a-blessing-when-we-are-inclined-to-write/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The gospel assures you that your value is not dependent on your looks or material possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-l-jack/the-gospel-assures-you-that-your-value-is-not-dependent-on-your-looks/) [Elaine L. Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-l-jack/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Money quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/) [Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy/) > [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/) [Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. 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