In a world obsessed with more, fewer desires may be the greatest form of wealth.
“I am not poor. Poor are those who desire many things.”— Leonardo da Vinci
I often notice two very different kinds of people in the world.
The first group never seems to have enough. They buy, upgrade, replace, and accumulate. Closets overflow. Garages fill. Credit cards stretch. Beneath it all is a quiet belief that more possessions will somehow bring security, status, or a sense of identity. Their worth becomes tangled up in what they own—or what they hope to own next. Contentment is always postponed, just one purchase away.
Then there is another group.
These people may have little by modern standards, yet they appear to have everything. They live lightly. They appreciate what they already possess. They aren’t chasing the next thing to feel whole. They know who they are—and they are at peace with that knowledge. Their sense of value comes not from accumulation, but from character. They define themselves by kindness, integrity, and how they treat others.
Leonardo da Vinci’s words quietly challenge us. Perhaps poverty isn’t about lacking possessions at all. Perhaps it’s about being endlessly hungry for more—more approval, more stuff, more validation—without ever feeling satisfied.
True wealth may not be visible. It shows up in gratitude, simplicity, and the freedom that comes from needing less.
Something to Reflect On
Where do you see yourself right now—chasing what you want, or appreciating what you already have?
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