--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Probably the greatest harm done by vast…" description: "\"Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/theodore-roosevelt-218_done_probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast_1995849.jpg" --- # Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm… ![“Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/theodore-roosevelt-218_done_probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast_1995849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/theodore-roosevelt-218_done_probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast_1995849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/theodore-roosevelt-218_done_probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast_1995849.jpg) > “Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great wealth can cause those with modest means to succumb to envy and hatred, harming themselves more than the rich. **In simple terms:** Wealth can corrupt modest people through envy. Key Takeaway Guard against envy and hatred. Themes wealth ethics self‑control Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal finance - community leadership - mental health counseling Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What triggers envy in your life? - How can you transform envy into motivation? A Different Perspective Self‑reflection may be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Greatest Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-harm-554944/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Harm Moderate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-moderate-3484886/) [Harm Vast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-vast-3484887/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-harm-3484885/) ## Related quotes > [Interference by the three classes with each other s jobs, and interchange of jobs between them, therefore, does the greatest harm to our state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/interference-by-the-three-classes-with-each-other-s-jobs-and/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The greatest harm can result from the best intentions - Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-greatest-harm-can-result-from-the-best-intentions-zeddicus-zu-l/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Genius, even, as it is the greatest good, is he greatest harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/genius-even-as-it-is-the-greatest-good-is-he-greatest-harm/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The man who does the greatest harm is the man who does nothing at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-beckett/the-man-who-does-the-greatest-harm-is-the-man-who-does-nothing-at-all/) [Galen Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-beckett/) > [Wizard's Second Rule The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/wizard-s-second-rule-the-greatest-harm-can-result-from-the-best/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“I have found that those who try to shield us from the truth, regardless of the reason, end up doing the greatest harm. Truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-dotta/i-have-found-that-those-who-try-to-shield-us-from-the-truth/) [Jessica Dotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-dotta/) > [“The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-greatest-harm-can-result-from-the-best-intentions/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [The two men who have done the greatest harm to the world are Christ and Columbus. Christ taught us guilt and sacrifice, to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-two-men-who-have-done-the-greatest-harm-to-the-world-are-christ/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Do you know that I am afraid that good people do a great deal of harm in this world? Certainly the greatest harm they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/do-you-know-that-i-am-afraid-that-good-people-do-a-great-deal-of-harm/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The greatest harm that you can do unto the envious, is to do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/the-greatest-harm-that-you-can-do-unto-the-envious-is-to-do-well/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [I look upon an increase in the power of the State with the greatest fear because, although while apparently doing good by minimizing exploitation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-look-upon-an-increase-in-the-power-of-the-state-with-the-greatest/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“I have noted that those who desire to do the most good often work the greatest harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rider-haggard/i-have-noted-that-those-who-desire-to-do-the-most-good-often-work-the/) [H. Rider Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rider-haggard/) > [The Second Rule is that the greatest harm can result from the best intentions. It sounds a paradox, but kindness and good intentions can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-second-rule-is-that-the-greatest-harm-can-result-from-the-best/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [It seems to me it's always the evil we refuse to see that does us the greatest harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baer/it-seems-to-me-it-s-always-the-evil-we-refuse-to-see-that-does-us-the/) [Robert Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baer/) > [I am a true laborer: I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-am-a-true-laborer-i-earn-that-i-eat-get-that-i-wear-owe-no-man-hate/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Theodore Roosevelt > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) [Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast-wealth-is-the-harm-that-we-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Done" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast-wealth-is-the-harm-that-we-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/theodore-roosevelt-218_done_probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast_1995849.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/theodore-roosevelt-218_done_probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast_1995849.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/theodore-roosevelt-218_done_probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast_1995849.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we…” — Theodore Roosevelt", "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": "Theodore Roosevelt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Probably the greatest harm done by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast-wealth-is-the-harm-that-we-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/probably-the-greatest-harm-done-by-vast-wealth-is-the-harm-that-we-of/#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 } } ] } ```