--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wealth to us is not mere material for…" description: "\"Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/thucydides-2578_achievement_wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-va_2896034.jpg" --- # Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an… ![“Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degredation to make no effort to overcome.” quote by Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/thucydides-2578_achievement_wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-va_2896034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/thucydides-2578_achievement_wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-va_2896034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/thucydides-2578_achievement_wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-va_2896034.jpg) > “Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degredation to make no effort to overcome.” [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth should be a means for achievement, while poverty is a call to effort, not disgrace. **In simple terms:** Wealth enables achievement; poverty motivates effort. Key Takeaway Strive regardless of material status. Themes wealth poverty achievement effort Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - career - education - community development Key Concepts motivation social values Questions to Reflect On - How can poverty inspire action? - What responsibilities come with wealth? A Different Perspective Wealth can also breed complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Achievement Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement-poverty-4092969/) [Acknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge/) [Disgrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgrace/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-achievement-4092971/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-think-820709/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vainglory Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vainglory-opportunity-4092970/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [My goal is to eradicate poverty. I think we can't have equality until we eradicate poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/my-goal-is-to-eradicate-poverty-i-think-we-can-t-have-equality-until/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [For whatever reason, in this country we have a very interesting relationship with poverty, where we think people in poverty are bad people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/for-whatever-reason-in-this-country-we-have-a-very-interesting/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [If you feel sad laugh if you feel fear,plunge ahead.if you feel poverty,think of wealth to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axll-sblns/if-you-feel-sad-laugh-if-you-feel-fear-plunge-ahead-if-you-feel/) [AXLL\_SBLNS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/axll-sblns/) > [“Between ourselves and our real natures we interpose that wax figure of idealizations and selections which we call our character. We extend this into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/between-ourselves-and-our-real-natures-we-interpose-that-wax-figure-2/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The notion about education has changed and that now it’s sort of much more aligned with, “Well, schools can’t combat poverty. We can’t possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/the-notion-about-education-has-changed-and-that-now-it-s-sort-of-much/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [I want to eradicate poverty. I think that theres a tremendous passion for that inside the World Bank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-yong-kim/i-want-to-eradicate-poverty-i-think-that-theres-a-tremendous-passion/) [Jim Yong Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-yong-kim/) > [Business is one of the most powerful institutions on Earth for creating wealth and opportunity and helping to lift people out of poverty. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blair-henry/business-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-institutions-on-earth-for/) [Peter Blair Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blair-henry/) > [I want to eradicate poverty. I think that there's a tremendous passion for that inside the World Bank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-yong-kim/i-want-to-eradicate-poverty-i-think-that-there-s-a-tremendous-passion/) [Jim Yong Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-yong-kim/) > [It is so much easier to talk of poverty than to think of the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/it-is-so-much-easier-to-talk-of-poverty-than-to-think-of-the-poor/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Ignorant people are apt to overrate the value of what is called education. 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I wish there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-issue-i-focus-on-the-most-is-extreme-poverty-i-think-it-s-kind-of/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [None of us are as insulated from poverty as we think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-foster/none-of-us-are-as-insulated-from-poverty-as-we-think/) [Dawn Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-foster/) > [It is so much easier to talk of poverty than to think of the poor, to argue the rights of capital than to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/it-is-so-much-easier-to-talk-of-poverty-than-to-think-of-the-poor-to/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Will we make all poverty history? No. But can we solve some of these extreme and egregious forms of poverty? I think yes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/will-we-make-all-poverty-history-no-but-can-we-solve-some-of-these/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) ## More by Thucydides > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-the-habit-of-mankind-to-entrust-to-careless-hope-what-they-long/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/contempt-for-an-assailant-is-best-shown-by-bravery-in-action/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The secret of happiness is freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-secret-of-happiness-is-freedom/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [And it is certain that those who do not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/and-it-is-certain-that-those-who-do-not-yield-to-their-equals-who/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-strong-do-what-they-have-to-do-and-the-weak-accept-what-they-have/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-useless-to-attack-men-who-could-not-be-controlled-even-if/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is an evil thing; but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse… Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-an-evil-thing-but-to-submit-to-the-dictation-of-other-states/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/men-do-not-rest-content-with-parrying-the-attacks-of-a-superior-but/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/as-for-democracy-the-men-of-sense-among-us-knew-what-it-was-and-i/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-a-matter-not-so-much-of-arms-as-of-money/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/amassing-of-wealth-is-an-opportunity-for-good-deeds-not-hubris/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [People get into the habit of entrusting the things they desire to wishful thinking, and subjecting things they don't desire to exhaustive thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/people-get-into-the-habit-of-entrusting-the-things-they-desire-to/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/hope-is-an-expensive-commodity-it-makes-better-sense-to-be-prepared/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) [Explore all 160 Thucydides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) [Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/) > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. 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There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degredation to make no effort to overcome.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thucydides" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-vainglory-but-an-opportunity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achievement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-vainglory-but-an-opportunity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/thucydides-2578_achievement_wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-va_2896034.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/thucydides-2578_achievement_wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-va_2896034.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/thucydides-2578_achievement_wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-va_2896034.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it…” — Thucydides", "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": "Thucydides", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wealth to us is not mere...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-vainglory-but-an-opportunity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/wealth-to-us-is-not-mere-material-for-vainglory-but-an-opportunity/#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 } } ] } ```