"Every man is a consumer, and ought to be a producer. He is by constitution expensive, and needs to be rich"

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words highlight the essential dynamic between consumption and production in human life. Every person naturally consumes resources, food, shelter, education, pleasure, and the vast array of materials and services required to survive and thrive. Human existence itself is "expensive", not only in the literal sense of money but in terms of energy, attention, and the many resources necessary to fulfill needs and desires. Being "expensive" reflects the inherent costs that come with merely existing, emphasizing that passivity or merely taking from the world is not enough.

Emerson suggests an ethical imperative to balance what we take with what we give. If everyone is a consumer by nature, each person "ought to be a producer" by choice and responsibility. Production is not limited to manufacturing tangible goods, but includes creating value in myriad forms: ideas, art, services, knowledge, relationships, or societal contribution. A producer replenishes the well from which all draw; production nurtures not only personal fulfillment but collective flourishing.

The phrase “needs to be rich” extends beyond material wealth. To be rich is to have abundance, not merely of finances, but of ability, wisdom, creativity, and character. Richness here implies the resources, internal and external, needed to shoulder the costs of life’s consumption without exploitation or dependency. The richness sought is holistic, encompassing prosperity in mind, spirit, and circumstance, enabling one to give rather than just take.

Ultimately, Emerson’s insight points to a harmony between taking from the world and giving back to it. Such balance cultivates autonomy and sustains communities. By striving to be productive contributors, individuals not only meet their own needs but also elevate society, ensuring that their existence does not come at undue cost to others or the environment. Through producing, each person transforms mere consumption into participation in the creation of the greater good.