Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Opulence is a crime

I had more clothes than I had closets, more cars than garage space, but no money.

I absolutely loathe luxury. It is the one thing I cannot stand.

Poverty wants some, luxury many, and avarice all things.

I've never been that person who wants a Rolls Royce or wants to live in a mansion or what have you.

Material blessings, when they pay beyond the category of need, are weirdly fruitful of headache.

In the affluent society no useful distinction can be made between luxuries and necessaries.

The newspaper people think we should still be back in the trash.... They really think Christians ought to be shabby, tacky, crummy, worthless people because we threaten them when we have things as nice as they have.... I’m excessive. Dear Lord, I’m excessive.... God is a great God. He deserves my best.

I was a millionaire twice over and half again before I was twenty-one. I stole every nickel of it and blew the bulk of the bundle on fine threads, gourmet foods, luxurious lodgings, fantastic foxes, fine wheels, and other sensual goodies.

I have no use for eight houses, 88 cars and 500 suits. I can't eat but one steak at a time. I don't want but one woman. It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth.

If you have two coats you have stolen one. We have no right to have more than we need when someone else has less than they need.

The only thing that can console one for being poor is extravagance.

Riches are apt to betray a man into arrogance.

Being rich has never stopped anyone from being greedy.

Some people say that less is more. But I think more is more.

An excess of hoarded wealth is the death of many.

I don't really regret anything I've done, even if it's bad. I mean, I have a $100,000 Chopard watch. I don't need a $100,000 watch, but I like it. It's all diamonds. That's a little extreme, but I don't care.

Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things

I don't need to go into office for the power. I have houses all over the world, stupendous boats... beautiful airplanes, a beautiful wife, a beautiful family... I am making a sacrifice.

There is nothing like wealth for dulling desire.

People always ask me if I believe diamonds are a girl's best friend. Frankly, I don't.

The prodigality of millionaires is comparable only to their greed of gain. Let some whim or passion seize them and money is of no account. In fact these Croesuses find whims and passions harder to come by than gold.

Money does not sate Avarice, but stimulates it.

The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.