G.K. Chesterton: Stupid To Want
on Tuesday, December 13, 2022Meaning of G.K. Chesterton Money Quote: saying if one is mart enough to acquire large amounts of money, they must be dumb enough to desire it. G.K. Chesterton said:
“To be clever enough to get all that money, one must be stupid enough to want it” — G.K. Chesterton
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In this quote, G.K. Chesterton seems to be making a commentary on the pursuit of wealth. Some key points:
- To amass a large fortune requires a certain level of intelligence, skills and business acumen (“to be clever enough”).
- However, Chesterton implies that wanting vast riches in the first place is a sign of limited wisdom or perspective (“to be stupid enough”).
- The quote suggests that while it takes talent to make a lot of money, desiring money above all else fails to recognize life’s deeper fulfillments that cannot be bought.
Overall, Chesterton appears to be saying that those solely driven by acquiring wealth, though capable, have misplaced priorities. True understanding recognizes money’s limitations compared to less tangible sources of meaning, fulfillment and human connection. The quote portrays an almost paradoxical view that wealth’s pursuit requires both intelligence and a lack of it.
Birthday: May 29, 1874 – Death: June 14, 1936