“How strongly does this bear out the truth of Plato’s maxim, that he who wishes to be really rich ought to lessen his desires rather than increase his property, because if a man places no bounds to his covetousness, he never will be free from want and misery.”
This powerful observation, recorded by the historian Plutarch, channels a timeless piece of wisdom from the philosopher Plato. It presents a radical redefinition of wealth. Instead of measuring riches by accumulation, Plato suggests true wealth comes from subtraction. This ancient idea challenges our modern instincts. We often link success with getting more: a bigger salary, a larger house, a newer car. However, this maxim argues that the path to genuine prosperity and freedom lies not in expanding our possessions, but in shrinking our desires. It’s a profound concept that forces us to question what it truly means to be rich.
The Philosophy of Enough: Desire vs. Property
At its core, Plato’s maxim draws a sharp distinction between external acquisition and internal contentment. The conventional approach to becoming wealthy involves increasing your property. You work harder to earn more money, which you then use to buy more things. While this path can lead to material comfort, Plato warns it is a trap. The problem is that human desire, or covetousness, is often limitless. When you satisfy one desire, another one quickly takes its place. This endless cycle is what modern psychologists call the “hedonic treadmill.”
For example, you might believe a new smartphone will make you happy. For a short time, it does. Soon, however, that novelty fades. A newer model is released, and your desire shifts to that. You are back where you started, feeling a sense of want. Consequently, you are never truly satisfied. This endless pursuit of more creates a constant state of unease and anxiety. You are not free, but rather a servant to your own cravings. The person who constantly wants more, regardless of how much they have, lives in a state of perpetual poverty.
Taming the Insatiable Appetite
Plato’s solution is to focus on the one variable you can completely control: your own desires. Instead of working to increase your property to match your desires, you work to lessen your desires to match your property. This shift in focus from the external to the internal is revolutionary. It means finding satisfaction in what you already have. Furthermore, it involves consciously deciding what is “enough” for a happy and fulfilling life. A person who needs very little to be happy is wealthier than a billionaire who is consumed by the desire for another billion. The former has a surplus of contentment, while the latter has a deficit.
This idea doesn’t mean you must live in poverty or reject all material possessions. Instead, it encourages a mindful approach to consumption. It asks us to examine our wants and distinguish them from our genuine needs. By placing boundaries on our covetousness, we break the cycle of want and misery. This self-mastery, according to Plato, is the key to unlocking a freedom that no amount of money can buy. It is the foundation of a truly rich life.
Ancient Wisdom in a Modern World
Plato’s maxim feels more relevant today than ever before. We live in a culture of hyper-consumerism. Advertisements constantly create new desires we never knew we had. Social media fuels comparison and envy, making us feel inadequate if we don’t have what others display. Consequently, many people find themselves trapped in a cycle of working long hours in jobs they dislike. They do this simply to afford a lifestyle they believe will bring them happiness, only to find that it doesn’t.
However, a growing number of people are discovering the truth in this ancient wisdom. Modern movements like minimalism and Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) are built on this very principle. Proponents of minimalism intentionally reduce their possessions to what is essential and brings them joy. This frees up their mental and physical space. Similarly, the FIRE movement encourages saving aggressively not to buy more things, but to buy freedom. By keeping their desires in check and avoiding lifestyle inflation, they can leave the traditional workforce decades early to pursue their passions.
The Science of Contentment
Modern psychology provides strong evidence to support Plato’s assertion. Source Researchers have extensively studied the link between money and happiness. They consistently find that while money is crucial for meeting basic needs, its impact on emotional well-being diminishes significantly after a certain point. . Beyond that threshold, more income does not reliably lead to more day-to-day happiness. This scientific finding directly supports the idea that endlessly increasing property is not the key to a better life.
Instead, factors like strong social connections, a sense of purpose, and gratitude have a much greater impact on long-term happiness. These are elements that do not require immense wealth. In fact, the relentless pursuit of riches can sometimes damage these very things. It can strain relationships and leave little time for meaningful activities. Therefore, by focusing on lessening our desires, we can redirect our energy toward the things that truly enrich our lives.
Cultivating True Wealth in Your Life
Embracing Plato’s maxim is a practical choice that anyone can make. It begins with a simple shift in mindset. Here are a few ways to apply this principle:
- Practice Gratitude: Regularly take stock of what you already have. By focusing on your blessings, you train your mind to feel abundance rather than scarcity. This naturally lessens the desire for more.
- Define ‘Enough’: Take time to think about what a genuinely good life looks like for you. What do you actually need to be happy, safe, and fulfilled? When you define your own finish line, you can stop running the endless race of consumerism.
- Prioritize Experiences Over Possessions: Research consistently shows that spending money on experiences, like travel or learning a new skill, brings more lasting happiness than spending on material goods. Experiences become part of our identity, while possessions are separate from us.
Ultimately, Plutarch’s retelling of Plato’s wisdom serves as a vital reminder. True wealth is not about having more, but about wanting less. It is the freedom from the misery of constant desire and the peace that comes with contentment. By reining in our covetousness, we can discover a more stable and profound richness that money can never purchase.