--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have a problem with guilt about…" description: "\"“I don't have a problem with guilt about money. The way I see it is that my money represents an enormous number of claim checks on society. It's like I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/warren-buffett-183_every-day_i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-guilt-about_1063996.jpg" --- # I don't have a problem with guilt about money. The way I… ![“I don't have a problem with guilt about money. The way I see it is that my money represents an enormous number of claim checks on society. It's like I have these little pieces of paper that I can turn into consumption. If I wanted to, I could hire 10,000 people to do nothing but paint my picture…” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/warren-buffett-183_every-day_i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-guilt-about_1063996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/warren-buffett-183_every-day_i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-guilt-about_1063996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/warren-buffett-183_every-day_i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-guilt-about_1063996.jpg) > ““I don't have a problem with guilt about money. The way I see it is that my money represents an enormous number of claim checks on society. It's like I have these little pieces of paper that I can turn into consumption. If I wanted to, I could hire 10,000 people to do nothing but paint my picture every day for the rest of my life. And the GDP would go up. But the utility of the product would be zilch, and I would be keeping those 10,000 people from doing AIDS research, or teaching, or nursing. I don't do that though. I don't use very many of those claim checks. There's nothing material I want very much. And I'm going to give virtually all of those claim checks to charity when my wife and I die.”” [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Money is a set of claims on society’s productive capacity; using it wisely means allocating resources to valuable outcomes, not wasteful consumption. **In simple terms:** Money represents claims on goods and services. Key Takeaway Spend or donate where it creates real value. Themes wealth allocation charity economics Mood thoughtful generous Type financial philosophical When to use this quote - investment decisions - philanthropy - budget planning - career choices Key Concepts resource theory utility maximization Questions to Reflect On - Which of your resources could create the most benefit? - How do you measure the value of your spending? A Different Perspective Personal preferences may limit the impact of charitable giving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consumption Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption-wanted-2615118/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Guilt Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt-money-342854/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Represents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-represents-344309/) [Problem Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-guilt-1747888/) ## Related quotes > [Money should not be in the hands of individuals; otherwise it will create this problem of being burdened with guilt. And money can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/money-should-not-be-in-the-hands-of-individuals-otherwise-it-will/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The problem with guilt is that it cements you to the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-leman/the-problem-with-guilt-is-that-it-cements-you-to-the-past/) [Kevin Leman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-leman/) > [“The problem with guilt was not how it attacks the present, but how it stained the past. Hindsight was a blemish on memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roshani-chokshi/the-problem-with-guilt-was-not-how-it-attacks-the-present-but-how-it/) [Roshani Chokshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roshani-chokshi/) > [Christ represents originally: 1) men before God; 2) God for men; 3) men to man. Similarly, money represents originally, in accordance with the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/christ-represents-originally-1-men-before-god-2-god-for-men-3-men-to/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Money is indispensable to a long-circuit heavy load energy system. It must be used when a sufficient surplus is being produced to allow a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-paterson/money-is-indispensable-to-a-long-circuit-heavy-load-energy-system-it/) [Isabel Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-paterson/) > [Money, which represents the prose of life, and which is hardly spoken of in parlors without an apology, is, in its effects and laws,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/money-which-represents-the-prose-of-life-and-which-is-hardly-spoken/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [For me, my work is pretty much a lot of my identity. I mean I live to work, basically. With money I'm able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-mcmillen/for-me-my-work-is-pretty-much-a-lot-of-my-identity-i-mean-i-live-to/) [Michael C. McMillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-mcmillen/) > [All money represents theft… To steal from the rich is a sacred and religious act. While looting, a man to his own self is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/all-money-represents-theft-to-steal-from-the-rich-is-a-sacred-and/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [Food ... love ... mother ... career ... Live every day to the fullest. Partake of the four basic guilt groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/food-love-mother-career-live-every-day-to-the-fullest-partake-of-the/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) ## More by Warren Buffett > [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Making money isn't the backbone of our guiding purpose; it is the by-product of our guiding purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/making-money-isn-t-the-backbone-of-our-guiding-purpose-it-is-the-by/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We set no volume goals in our insurance business generally-and certainly not in reinsurance-as virtually any volume can be achieved if profitability standards are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-set-no-volume-goals-in-our-insurance-business-generally-and/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. 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If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I was lucky enough to be born in a time and place where society values my talent, and gave me a good education to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-born-in-a-time-and-place-where-society/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-common-cause-of-low-prices-is-pessimism-some-times-pervasive/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [What you really want to do in investments is figure out what's important and knowable. If it's unimportant or unknowable you forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/what-you-really-want-to-do-in-investments-is-figure-out-what-s/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I don't measure my life by the money I've made. Other people might, but certainly don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-don-t-measure-my-life-by-the-money-i-ve-made-other-people-might-but/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I mean the truth is, I've never had it so good in terms of taxes. I am paying the lowest tax rate that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-the-truth-is-i-ve-never-had-it-so-good-in-terms-of-taxes-i-am/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-important-quality-for-an-investor-is-temperament-not/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) [Explore all 984 Warren Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## More Every day quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. 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If I wanted to, I could hire 10,000 people to do nothing but paint my picture every day for the rest of my life. And the GDP would go up. But the utility of the product would be zilch, and I would be keeping those 10,000 people from doing AIDS research, or teaching, or nursing. I don't do that though. I don't use very many of those claim checks. There's nothing material I want very much. 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