"Worldly wealth is the Devil's bait; and those whose minds feed upon riches recede, in general, from real happiness, in proportion as their stores increase, as the moon, when she is fullest, is farthest from the sun"
- Robert Burton
About this Quote
This quote by Robert Burton is a warning versus the pursuit of wealth. He recommends that worldly wealth is a temptation from the Devil, and that those who focus on building up riches will discover themselves further far from real joy. Burton compares this to the moon, which is at its max when it is farthest far from the sun. This analogy indicates that the more wealth one builds up, the further away they end up being from real joy. Burton's quote serves as a reminder that true happiness can not be found in material belongings, which it is important to focus on more significant pursuits.
"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"
