proverb · Words worth keeping
Great desire causes endless poverty.
Great desire causes endless poverty.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Great desire described as producing endless poverty uses poverty as an image of never having enough. The saying questions continually expanding wants.
What the words are saying
A responsible interpretation does not redefine material deprivation as a bad attitude. A useful reading distinguishes unmet necessities from acquisitiveness that remains unsatisfied despite resources. Desire can also motivate worthwhile action, so wanting itself is not the problem in every situation.
Everyday example
Someone asks whether another purchase meets a real need or continues an unending search for more.
When to use it
Use it to discuss sufficiency without blaming material hardship.
What it does not mean
No cure for poverty through attitude or condemnation of every desire is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
India
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 358; PDF page 36; collection label: India
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- India