"And, in fact, you can find that the lack of basic resources, material resources, contributes to unhappiness, but the increase in material resources do not increase happiness"
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
About this Quote
This quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi recommends that having raw material resources is required for happiness, but having more material resources does not always cause increased joy. This suggests that having raw material resources is necessary for a specific level of joy, however having more than the standard resources does not necessarily result in a greater level of happiness. This recommends that material resources are not the only element that contributes to happiness, which other aspects such as relationships, experiences, and personal growth are also essential. This quote likewise indicates that having excessive material wealth can result in a sensation of emptiness and dissatisfaction, as it does not always result in increased happiness. For that reason, it is necessary to find a balance between material resources and other elements of life in order to achieve true happiness.
"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom"