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Money as Means to an End or the Key to Happiness

There are money quotes by Aristotle, Warren Buffet, Jane Austin, and other famous people, discussing wealth and finance and why money is important for us.

Aristotle points to the fact that money would lose value if there were only men on the planet. Men need women, that is. One study shows that women make men more other-oriented, empathetic, generous, and gentle. Warren Buffet’s advice is to never lose money. If you have a large family, you can’t afford to lose money. If you run a large business, financial losses mean restructuring of the financial structure of the company as well as layoffs. J. Paul Getty says that you are not wealthy enough if you know how much you have. This is kind of obvious. And Samuel Johnson once said that spending less is better than being poor. Spending beyond your means shows your employer, bank, or landlord that you have poor money management habits and financial discipline. You are not someone who can be trusted with money and important decisions. Alan Alda, Mark Twain, Apostle Paul, George Elliot, and other thinkers and famous people also discussed the importance of money, poverty, happiness, and giving others who are less fortunate.

Truly, money has an important role to play in our lives. It is a medium of exchange. And in individualistic, consumer societies like ours, most people want bigger houses, new cars, and high-tech household appliances. Money is the key to success, social status, and personal happiness. And it is important because consumption is the way to satisfy our needs. A need that is fulfilled, whether basic such as safety and belonging or high self-esteem and actualization, provides pleasure. Consumption has economic and social aspects, depending on the services and goods that are necessary to fulfill demands. We have cultural, social, psychological, and physiological needs. All activities that help meet our needs (dining out, career success, etc.) are consumption. In a consumer society, money is important because it helps us meet various demands. In the view of Albert Camus, people cannot be happy without money. A high income means that our skills and knowledge are valuable. Thus when our skills are valued highly, this fulfills our need for approval and actualization. Money is one indicator that we are successful. And it gives us purchasing power and choice.

Money is means to an end. Being poor doesn’t make you a bad spouse or parent. But it means that you won’t be able to buy quality food or secure adequate health services for your children. Having a high salary means that you won’t be living paycheck to paycheck, with half of your monthly income going toward payday loans and high interest credit cards. Money gives you freedom to do the things you want – travel, enjoy your hobbies, spend quality time with your children, and more. Of course, there is more to life than money. Those who are adaptable, flexible, balanced, and optimistic enjoy life in good and bad periods. Life is too short.