proverb · Words worth keeping
One who does not know when he has enough is poor indeed.
One who does not know when he has enough is poor indeed.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Not recognising enough is described as poverty. The saying turns attention from possessions alone to an inability to feel sufficient.
What the words are saying
The metaphor should not erase material poverty or treat deprived people as responsible for their circumstances. A useful interpretation can question endless acquisition while respecting legitimate needs. Satisfaction is not guaranteed by an attitude, and actual resources still matter.
Everyday example
Someone distinguishes a recurring desire for more from an unmet practical need.
When to use it
Use it to discuss sufficiency without redefining hardship as a personal fault.
What it does not mean
No cure for poverty through contentment or blame for unmet need 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
China
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 274; PDF page 31; collection label: China
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- China