Wilhelm von Humboldt Quotes

That in all these worldly Things, that a Man pursues with the greatest Eagerness and Intention of Mind imaginable, he finds not half the Pleasure in the actual Possession of them, that he proposed to himself in the Expectation.

Possession naturally abates the Vigour of Desire.

The desires of man increase with his acquisitions.

It's so much better to desire than to have.

Possessions. The very word is potent - suggestive as it is of ownership both material and erotic. To possess. Possession. Possessed.

Desire makes everything blossom; possession makes everything wither and fade.

Poor is the man who desires a lot

Possessions are usually diminished by possession.

I want to feel that I own things.

Anything you think you "must have" usually comes to own you.

There is nothing like wealth for dulling desire.

People like to own things.

You wear yourself out in the pursuit of wealth or love or freedom, you do everything to gain some right, and once it's gained you take no pleasure in it.

I don't get that much enjoyment out of saying 'I own it.'

I had the notion that, OK, so now we have all of this wealth, we could buy not only one expensive car, we could buy all of them. As soon as you realize that you could buy all of them, then none of them are particularly interesting or satisfying.

It's not the having, it's the getting.

Anybody who thinks money will make you happy, hasn't got money.

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.

It seems like a lot of people seek their peace in things. And most of us are not even satisfied with the things we have... we always want more.

I think if you were to ask me when I was much younger what my definition of the good life was, I think it would have sounded a lot like what most people would say - a life with all the things you want and everything you think you need to make you happy, and these sorts of things.

Money doesn't buy happiness. It buys great hookers - but not happiness.

Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.

Collecting is like sex; satisfaction renews and creates new appetites.

You want the people to know, but you don't really want the things behind it. I have everything I ever wanted. I never wanted a big house. I never wanted a Ferrari. I mean, as I proceeded with the music, I started liking Ferraris...

After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but is often true.