---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you live for having it all, what you…"
description: "\"If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.\" — Vicki Robin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vicki-robin-39603_consumerism_if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-h_466938.png"
---

#  If you live for having it all, what you have is never…

![“If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.” quote by Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vicki-robin-39603_consumerism_if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-h_466938.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vicki-robin-39603_consumerism_if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-h_466938.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vicki-robin-39603_consumerism_if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-h_466938.png)

> “If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.”

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Warns that perpetual pursuit of material excess leads to chronic dissatisfaction; contentment comes from valuing enough.

**In simple terms:** Wanting everything never satisfies.

Key Takeaway

Practice gratitude and set realistic goals.

Themes

contentment consumerism mindfulness well‑being

Mood

thoughtful calm

Type

self‑help philosophical

When to use this quote

- budgeting
- mindful spending
- decluttering
- goal setting

Key Concepts

minimalism psychology financial health

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “enough” look like for you?
- How can you shift focus from having to being?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressure often pushes endless acquisition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

## Related quotes

> [Your Own Motivation In Life Is What Keeps You Going And Excites You To Live. Having A Dream And A True Passion To Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/your-own-motivation-in-life-is-what-keeps-you-going-and-excites-you/)

Pacifiersucker

> [I would rather die having spoken in my way, than live having spoken in yours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-shanker/i-would-rather-die-having-spoken-in-my-way-than-live-having-spoken-in/)

[Albert Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-shanker/)

> [“No man lives, can live, without having some object in view, and making efforts to attain that object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/no-man-lives-can-live-without-having-some-object-in-view-and-making/)

[Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/)

> [We are always getting ready to live, and never having time enough to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/we-are-always-getting-ready-to-live-and-never-having-time-enough-to/)

[Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/)

> [One can live without having survived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-forche/one-can-live-without-having-survived/)

[Carolyn Forche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-forche/)

> [“I would rather be a cripple and have your love for all of a single moment than to live as I am without ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/i-would-rather-be-a-cripple-and-have-your-love-for-all-of-a-single/)

[Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/)

> [We no longer live life. We consume it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/we-no-longer-live-life-we-consume-it/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [Water and petrol both come from the earth, and though they seem to be alike and even the same, they are in nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhu-sundar-singh/water-and-petrol-both-come-from-the-earth-and-though-they-seem-to-be/)

[Sadhu Sundar Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhu-sundar-singh/)

> [The counterculture has nothing to do with Dolce &amp; Gabbana having a 'Hippy Summer' or something. Street kids, and kids who want to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/the-counterculture-has-nothing-to-do-with-dolce-gabbana-having-a/)

[Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/)

> [I don't like the idea of having to reproduce a recorded song live that I sing. I have enough to do on stage. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-having-to-reproduce-a-recorded-song-live/)

[Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/)

> [I believe we live in a positive sum world and wealth isn't just taken or moved around; it's mostly created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/i-believe-we-live-in-a-positive-sum-world-and-wealth-isn-t-just-taken/)

[Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/)

> [For people who live in the suburbs and must commute long distances to work, their wealth will sink as energy prices rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/for-people-who-live-in-the-suburbs-and-must-commute-long-distances-to/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [We're fortunate enough to live on a planet that's bathed in thousands of times more energy than we use and that's stocked with thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/we-re-fortunate-enough-to-live-on-a-planet-that-s-bathed-in-thousands/)

[Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/)

> [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/)

[Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

## More by Vicki Robin

> [“One day a young girl watched her mother prepare a ham for baking. At one point the daughter asked, “Mom, why did you cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/one-day-a-young-girl-watched-her-mother-prepare-a-ham-for-baking-at/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [Life is too precious to be a spectator sport. We are no longer merely fans, rooting for the winning team. We are the team.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/life-is-too-precious-to-be-a-spectator-sport-we-are-no-longer-merely/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [Americans used to be 'citizens.' Now we are 'consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/americans-used-to-be-citizens-now-we-are-consumers/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [We no longer live life. We consume it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/we-no-longer-live-life-we-consume-it/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [Could we chose to amend the rules of the game to create a society that values people over profits, life over pollution, mutual care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/could-we-chose-to-amend-the-rules-of-the-game-to-create-a-society/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [When you have Enough, you have everything you need. There's nothing extra to weigh you down, distract, or distress you. Enough is a fearless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/when-you-have-enough-you-have-everything-you-need-there-s-nothing/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [How you spend your money is how you vote on what exists in the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/how-you-spend-your-money-is-how-you-vote-on-what-exists-in-the-world/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [In Nonviolent Communication you will find an amazingly effective language for saying what's on your mind and in your heart. Like so many essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/in-nonviolent-communication-you-will-find-an-amazingly-effective/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [It is easier to tell our therapist about our sex life than it is to tell our accountant about our finances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/it-is-easier-to-tell-our-therapist-about-our-sex-life-than-it-is-to/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

> [If you want to live for all, you will never meet anywhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/if-you-want-to-live-for-all-you-will-never-meet-anywhere/)

[Vicki Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

[Explore all 11 Vicki Robin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/)

## More Consumerism quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/)

[Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/)

> [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [A lot of times, my work is looked at very much on the surface. It's very easy to just want to put something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/a-lot-of-times-my-work-is-looked-at-very-much-on-the-surface-it-s/)

[Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/)

> [I think that consumerism is intrinsically a pretty flawed social system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elkington/i-think-that-consumerism-is-intrinsically-a-pretty-flawed-social/)

[John Elkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elkington/)

> [America always put forth this phony melting pot theory, but it's a reality now. They couldn't accomplish the melting pot economically; they couldn't accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-means/america-always-put-forth-this-phony-melting-pot-theory-but-it-s-a/)

[Russell Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-means/)

> [“Fifty years ago, people went without clothes in order to eat. Today, people gladly go without food in order to buy clothes. And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-dumontais/fifty-years-ago-people-went-without-clothes-in-order-to-eat-today/)

Sinclair Dumontais

> [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/)

[John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/)

> [“In my view, dissatisfaction is implicit in the fabric of consumerism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bruno/in-my-view-dissatisfaction-is-implicit-in-the-fabric-of-consumerism/)

[Dave Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bruno/)

> [Just when you thought multi-nationals and crazed consumerism were too big to fight, along comes Naomi Klein with facts, spirit, and news of successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/just-when-you-thought-multi-nationals-and-crazed-consumerism-were-too/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

> [“Logograms pose a more difficult question. An increasing number of persons and institutions, from archy and mehitabel to PostScript and TrueType, come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bringhurst/logograms-pose-a-more-difficult-question-an-increasing-number-of/)

[Robert Bringhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bringhurst/)

> [One of the problems with industrialism is that it's based on the premise of more and more. It has to keep expanding to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/one-of-the-problems-with-industrialism-is-that-it-s-based-on-the/)

[Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/)

> [Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/never-buy-what-you-do-not-want-because-it-is-cheap-it-will-be-dear-to/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The pharma pricing system was not built on the idea of consumer engagement. It was built... on market efficiencies. It was not built on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/the-pharma-pricing-system-was-not-built-on-the-idea-of-consumer/)

[Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/)

> [“We consumer and become exactly what we create. In all times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/we-consumer-and-become-exactly-what-we-create-in-all-times/)

[Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/)

[Browse all 628 Consumerism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Vicki Robin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-have-is-never-enough/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Consumerism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-have-is-never-enough/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vicki-robin-39603_consumerism_if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-h_466938.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vicki-robin-39603_consumerism_if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-h_466938.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vicki-robin-39603_consumerism_if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-h_466938.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.” — Vicki Robin",
                "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": "Vicki Robin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-robin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you live for having it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-have-is-never-enough/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-robin/if-you-live-for-having-it-all-what-you-have-is-never-enough/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
