Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Edward AbbeyRead
The rich can buy everything but health, virtue, friendship, wit, good looks, love, pride, intelligence, grace, and, if you need it, happiness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wealth cannot purchase intangible values such as health and true friendships.
This quote emphasizes the limitations of wealth, suggesting that while the rich can acquire material possessions, they cannot buy essential qualities that contribute to a fulfilling life. Essentials like health, virtue, and genuine relationships are beyond monetary reach, highlighting the importance of non-material aspects of human experience.
Themes
WealthHappinessFriendshipHealthValues
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the importance of mental well-being, the quote can be used to highlight the need for emotional support over material gain.
More from Edward Abbey
All quotes βI love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another thousand years. The permissive society is the free society.
Edward AbbeyRead
If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
Edward AbbeyRead
The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
Edward AbbeyRead
I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
Edward AbbeyRead
Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
Edward AbbeyRead
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I've heard people say that God is the gift of desperation, and there's a lot to be said for having really reached a bottom where you've run out of any more good ideas or plans for everybody else's behavior; or how to save and fix and rescue; or just get out of a huge mess, possibly of your own creation.
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I've seen a lot in my life. I've seen a lot of winning. I've seen a lot of testing times. I think when you're tested, you really find out what you're made of, OK?
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Avoidance of sin is lighter than the pain of remorse.
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If I had more time, I would have written less.
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He seemed to be talking about my fears, my insecurity, and my unwillingness to see what was wonderful because tomorrow it might disappear and I might suffer. The gods throw the dice, and they don't ask whether we want to be in the game or not.
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The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
Albert EinsteinRead