--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you live according to nature, you…" description: "\"If you live according to nature, you never will be poor; if according to the world's caprice, you will never be rich.\" — Seneca the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/seneca-the-younger-219_caprice_if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-neve_1692842.jpg" --- # If you live according to nature, you never will be poor… ![“If you live according to nature, you never will be poor; if according to the world's caprice, you will never be rich.” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/seneca-the-younger-219_caprice_if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-neve_1692842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/seneca-the-younger-219_caprice_if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-neve_1692842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/seneca-the-younger-219_caprice_if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-neve_1692842.jpg) > “If you live according to nature, you never will be poor; if according to the world's caprice, you will never be rich.” [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living in harmony with nature leads to contentment; chasing fickle worldly desires brings endless dissatisfaction. **In simple terms:** Nature gives contentment; wealth chase brings emptiness. Key Takeaway Seek natural balance, not fleeting riches. Themes stoicism contentment wealth nature Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal finance - career choices - relationships - health decisions Key Concepts virtue self‑control materialism Questions to Reflect On - What does "living according to nature" mean for you? - How can you balance material needs with inner peace? A Different Perspective Natural contentment may still require practical resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caprice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caprice/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Natural environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-environment/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“If you live in harmony with nature you will never be poor; if you live according what others think, you will never be rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/if-you-live-in-harmony-with-nature-you-will-never-be-poor-if-you-live/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“If you shape your life according to nature, you will never be poor; if according to people's opinions, you will never be rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-you-shape-your-life-according-to-nature-you-will-never-be-poor-if/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“Epicurus: “If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to opinion, you will never be rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/epicurus-if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-will-never-be-poor-if/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Our (the Stoic) motto, as you know, is live according to nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/our-the-stoic-motto-as-you-know-is-live-according-to-nature/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The human population can no longer be allowed to grow in the same old uncontrollable way. If we do not take charge of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/the-human-population-can-no-longer-be-allowed-to-grow-in-the-same-old/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Nature, after all, is not so poor that she requires constant improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-renger-patzsch/nature-after-all-is-not-so-poor-that-she-requires-constant-improvement/) [Albert Renger-Patzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-renger-patzsch/) > [Rich by nature, poor by policy' might be written over Canada's door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/rich-by-nature-poor-by-policy-might-be-written-over-canada-s-door/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [“The best state for human nature is that in which, while no one is poor, no one desires to be richer, nor has any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-best-state-for-human-nature-is-that-in-which-while-no-one-is-poor/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [For rich people, the sky is just an extra, a gift of nature. The poor, on the other hand, can see it as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/for-rich-people-the-sky-is-just-an-extra-a-gift-of-nature-the-poor-on/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [To live according to the spirit is to love according to the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/to-live-according-to-the-spirit-is-to-love-according-to-the-spirit/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Live according to your income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/live-according-to-your-income/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Members of Congress must live according to the same laws as everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/members-of-congress-must-live-according-to-the-same-laws-as-everyone/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [“You should never live according to what you lack. Instead, live as though you can do anything you dream of doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/you-should-never-live-according-to-what-you-lack-instead-live-as/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [I certainly do attempt to live according to spiritual principles. That's always the foundation of each and every day. I have experienced some things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/i-certainly-do-attempt-to-live-according-to-spiritual-principles-that/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [“We live a short period of time in this world, but we live it according to the laws of eternal life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-live-a-short-period-of-time-in-this-world-but-we-live-it-according/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Seneca the Younger > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The road by precepts is tedious, by example, short and efficacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-road-by-precepts-is-tedious-by-example-short-and-efficacious/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He who does not want to die should not want to live. For life is tendered to us with the proviso of death. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-does-not-want-to-die-should-not-want-to-live-for-life-is/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Let us not seek our disease out of ourselves; 'tis in us, and planted in our bowels; and the mere fact that we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-us-not-seek-our-disease-out-of-ourselves-tis-in-us-and-planted-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Hesitation is the best cure for anger. The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More Caprice quotes > [In the indications of female poverty there can be no disguise. No woman dresses below herself from caprice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/in-the-indications-of-female-poverty-there-can-be-no-disguise-no/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/talent-and-intelligence-never-yet-inoculated-anyone-against-the/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Our fascination with weather: its caprices and changes as an antidote to the eternal repetition of daily life; a helpful illusion of novelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/our-fascination-with-weather-its-caprices-and-changes-as-an-antidote/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) > [I see nothing quite conclusive in the art of temporal government, But violence, duplicity and frequent malversation. King rules or barons rule: The strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/i-see-nothing-quite-conclusive-in-the-art-of-temporal-government-but/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [A caprice is handled like a stew, and the pepper is added at the last minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachilde/a-caprice-is-handled-like-a-stew-and-the-pepper-is-added-at-the-last/) [Rachilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachilde/) > [When faced with demanding situations, can you keep your heart as light as a feather? Can you laugh your way through challenges and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-faced-with-demanding-situations-can-you-keep-your-heart-as-light/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Travel is a caprice in childhood, a passion in youth, a necessity in manhood, and an elegy in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/travel-is-a-caprice-in-childhood-a-passion-in-youth-a-necessity-in/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [Broken lines do not know what they want. With their caprices they cut time up, abuse routes, slash the joyous flowers and split the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-crevel/broken-lines-do-not-know-what-they-want-with-their-caprices-they-cut/) [Rene Crevel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-crevel/) > [Dame Edna is that rarest sighting in our time of the absolute comic, an inspired personification of caprice whose comedy answered the primal call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/dame-edna-is-that-rarest-sighting-in-our-time-of-the-absolute-comic/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > [The great merit of gold is precisely that it is scarce; that its quantity is limited by nature; that it is costly to discover,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-great-merit-of-gold-is-precisely-that-it-is-scarce-that-its/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Caprice, independence and rebellion, which are opposed to the social order, are essential to the good health of an ethnic group. We shall measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/caprice-independence-and-rebellion-which-are-opposed-to-the-social/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) > [Caprice in women often infringes upon the rules of decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/caprice-in-women-often-infringes-upon-the-rules-of-decency/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I love you boosie baltimore m.d caprice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-boosie/i-love-you-boosie-baltimore-m-d-caprice/) [Lil Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-boosie/) > [Caprice is half man. There is something manly about her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bacon/caprice-is-half-man-there-is-something-manly-about-her/) [Richard Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bacon/) > [For the writer, the serial killer is, abstractly, an analogue of the imagination's caprices and amorality; the sense that, no matter the dictates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/for-the-writer-the-serial-killer-is-abstractly-an-analogue-of-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) [Browse all 110 Caprice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caprice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you live according to nature, you never will be poor; if according to the world's caprice, you will never be rich.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seneca the Younger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-never-will-be-poor-if-according/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Caprice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-never-will-be-poor-if-according/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/seneca-the-younger-219_caprice_if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-neve_1692842.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/seneca-the-younger-219_caprice_if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-neve_1692842.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/seneca-the-younger-219_caprice_if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-neve_1692842.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you live according to nature, you never will be poor; if according to the world's caprice, you will never…” — Seneca the Younger", "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": "Seneca the Younger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you live according to nature,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-never-will-be-poor-if-according/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/if-you-live-according-to-nature-you-never-will-be-poor-if-according/#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 } } ] } ```