"The loss of wealth is loss of dirt, as sages in all times assert; The happy man's without a shirt"

This quote by John Heywood is a pointer of the value of wealth and product possessions. He is stating that the loss of wealth is the exact same as the loss of dirt, suggesting that it is a considerable loss. The sages of perpetuity have actually asserted this, suggesting that it is an universal truth. Heywood then goes on to state that the delighted male lacks a shirt, implying that product possessions are not essential for joy. He is recommending that true joy comes from within and does not depend upon material ownerships. This quote is a pointer that wealth and product ownerships are not the most crucial things in life and that real joy comes from within. It is a suggestion to concentrate on the important things that genuinely matter in life and to not be too attached to product possessions.