"I don't have anything that I treasure at all. They're just things. I tend to buy an awful lot of stuff, like clothes and things. But I wouldn't be bothered if my house burns down tomorrow"
About this Quote
The intent is partly image management, but in a disarming way. Williams acknowledges the compulsion to consume without pretending he has transcended it. He buys, he accumulates, he knows it looks ridiculous, and then he drains it of power by declaring it meaningless. That double move signals someone who has lived inside a machine that turns desire into inventory and then punishes you for wanting it.
The subtext is emotional triage. If you train yourself not to treasure objects, you also reduce the number of things that can hurt you. For a musician whose life has been defined by public adoration, tabloids, and the volatility of fame, detachment can sound less like philosophy and more like survival strategy: keep your valuables non-sentimental, keep your self intact.
Context matters, too. Williams came up in a 90s-to-2000s British pop economy that sold aspiration hard: designer fits, big houses, conspicuous reinvention. His remark punctures that fantasy from the inside. He is not preaching; he is admitting the emptiness of the prize while still standing in the prize room.
Quote Details
| Topic | Letting Go |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Williams, Robbie. (2026, January 15). I don't have anything that I treasure at all. They're just things. I tend to buy an awful lot of stuff, like clothes and things. But I wouldn't be bothered if my house burns down tomorrow. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-have-anything-that-i-treasure-at-all-165717/
Chicago Style
Williams, Robbie. "I don't have anything that I treasure at all. They're just things. I tend to buy an awful lot of stuff, like clothes and things. But I wouldn't be bothered if my house burns down tomorrow." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-have-anything-that-i-treasure-at-all-165717/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I don't have anything that I treasure at all. They're just things. I tend to buy an awful lot of stuff, like clothes and things. But I wouldn't be bothered if my house burns down tomorrow." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-have-anything-that-i-treasure-at-all-165717/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.











