--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The happiness of building lasted but a…" description: "\"The happiness of building lasted but a little while, for though I love to spend, I hate to be cheated; and I soon found, that to build is to be robbed...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/samuel-johnson-50_cheated_the-happiness-of-building-lasted-but-a-l_1077397.png" --- # The happiness of building lasted but a little while, for… ![“The happiness of building lasted but a little while, for though I love to spend, I hate to be cheated; and I soon found, that to build is to be robbed.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/samuel-johnson-50_cheated_the-happiness-of-building-lasted-but-a-l_1077397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/samuel-johnson-50_cheated_the-happiness-of-building-lasted-but-a-l_1077397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/samuel-johnson-50_cheated_the-happiness-of-building-lasted-but-a-l_1077397.png) > “The happiness of building lasted but a little while, for though I love to spend, I hate to be cheated; and I soon found, that to build is to be robbed.” [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. Brief pleasure from building fades quickly; spending brings joy but also risk of being cheated, making building feel like loss. **In simple terms:** Building brings short joy, but risk of loss. Key Takeaway Beware of exploitation when creating. Themes trust risk building exploitation shortterm pleasure longterm loss Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal projects - financial investments - creative endeavors Key Concepts Economic exchange human nature materialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your creations from being taken advantage of? - What balances joy and risk in your work? A Different Perspective The joy of building can be undermined by external deceit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [Though I love to spend, I hate be cheated, and I found that to build is to be robbed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/though-i-love-to-spend-i-hate-be-cheated-and-i-found-that-to-build-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [To build is to be robbed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-build-is-to-be-robbed/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“There's that kind of money in the world. 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