proverb · Words worth keeping
He is rich that is satisfied.
He is rich that is satisfied.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying calls a satisfied person rich. It makes sufficiency of desire a kind of wealth distinct from possessions.
What the words are saying
Rich shifts from an amount held to a personal evaluation. A useful application can discuss contentment without assuming it eliminates hardship or that wanting a needed improvement is unwise. The phrase does not measure either a fortune or someone’s emotional state.
Everyday example
Someone values a satisfying activity without using its low cost to dismiss another person’s unmet needs.
When to use it
Use it to discuss contentment as a figurative form of wealth.
What it does not mean
Satisfaction does not eliminate practical needs or establish financial security.
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
- Not established
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 proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 317; PDF page 48
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.