Thoughts of Possession Quotes in English
Possession quotes in the English language encapsulate the profound complexities and nuances associated with the concept of ownership. At their core, these quotes not only delve into the tangible aspects of what it means to possess something but also explore the intricate emotional connections individuals forge with their belongings, ambitions, and interpersonal relationships. For instance, a phrase such as "Possession isn’t nine-tenths of the law; it’s nine-tenths of the problem" poignantly articulates the notion that ownership often brings with it a multitude of challenges, responsibilities, and emotional burdens that can overshadow the apparent benefits of having something. This perspective prompts a deeper reflection on how ownership can sometimes lead to stress and anxiety rather than fulfillment and joy.
Here’s a collection of possession quotes along with detailed meanings and examples, reflecting on the nature of material ownership and the idea of wealth:
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"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor." — Seneca
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Meaning: True poverty stems from insatiable desire rather than a lack of material things. Happiness comes from contentment, not constantly wanting more.
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Example: A person with a modest income but who appreciates what they have feels richer than someone who constantly feels dissatisfied despite a high income.
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"Possessions are usually diminished by possession." — Friedrich Nietzsche
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Meaning: The value of material things often diminishes once we own them. The thrill of acquiring something new is temporary, and possessions rarely provide lasting satisfaction.
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Example: After buying an expensive gadget, someone feels excitement at first, but over time, the gadget becomes just another object, showing that material items don’t bring long-term joy.
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"The things you own end up owning you." — Chuck Palahniuk
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Meaning: Material possessions can control us by taking up time, attention, and resources. When we prioritize objects over experiences or relationships, they limit our freedom.
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Example: Someone buys a luxury car but becomes obsessed with its upkeep, expenses, and appearance, realizing that it has become a burden rather than a source of joy.
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"He who is contented is rich." — Lao Tzu
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Meaning: True wealth comes from contentment, not from accumulating material goods. Being happy with what one has is the ultimate richness.
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Example: A person with a humble lifestyle feels fulfilled and happy, focusing on relationships and personal growth rather than trying to acquire more things.
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"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants." — Epictetus
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Meaning: Real wealth is not about accumulating more but about reducing desires. When we need less, we’re free from the constant pursuit of material items.
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Example: A minimalist who finds joy in simple living feels richer than someone who is continually chasing luxury and new acquisitions.
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"Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Meaning: Money and possessions alone don’t bring happiness. Fulfillment comes from accomplishments, growth, and creativity.
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Example: An artist finds happiness in creating meaningful art rather than in accumulating wealth, realizing that their sense of purpose comes from their work.
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"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." — Epicurus
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Meaning: Instead of constantly wanting more, appreciate what you already possess, as these things were once your goals.
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Example: A person who dreamt of owning a home now takes time to appreciate it rather than immediately desiring a bigger or more luxurious one.
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"The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money." — Anonymous
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Meaning: True wealth lies in character, relationships, and skills that don’t depend on money. These are the qualities that remain if material possessions are taken away.
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Example: An individual who loses their business can still rely on their skills, resilience, and connections to rebuild, proving that their true wealth lies beyond material things.
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"Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like." — Will Rogers
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Meaning: People often overspend on possessions to gain approval from others, which can lead to unnecessary financial strain and dissatisfaction.
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Example: Someone buys a luxury item on credit to appear successful, later realizing they only bought it to impress others and that it doesn’t truly bring them happiness.
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"My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants." — J. Brotherton
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Meaning: True wealth is measured by needing little, not by owning a lot. Those who need less are often more at peace and satisfied.
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Example: A person living a simple life, focused on experiences over possessions, feels wealthy and content, while others with more possessions may feel they lack something.
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"The best things in life are free." — Unknown
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Meaning: Many of life’s most valuable experiences — love, friendship, nature, joy — can’t be bought or owned.
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Example: A person enjoys a day at the beach with family, realizing the happiness they feel is worth more than any material possession.
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"You can't have everything you want, but you can have the things that really matter to you." — Marissa Mayer
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Meaning: We may not achieve every material desire, but by focusing on what’s most meaningful, we gain a sense of true fulfillment.
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Example: Someone chooses to invest time in family and meaningful work rather than constantly pursuing wealth, finding satisfaction in prioritizing what they value most.
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"Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty." — Socrates
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Meaning: Feeling content with what you have is true wealth, while craving luxury without need leads to a sense of poverty.
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Example: A person living within their means and focusing on simple pleasures feels abundant, whereas someone constantly seeking luxury feels unsatisfied despite having more.
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"Having what you want is riches; wanting what you have is happiness." — Unknown
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Meaning: Wealth is having enough, but happiness comes from appreciating what we already own.
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Example: A person stops yearning for new gadgets and appreciates their current possessions, feeling more satisfied with what they have rather than chasing after more.
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"The greatest wealth is to live content with little." — Plato
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Meaning: Contentment and simplicity are the truest forms of wealth, as they free us from the burden of endless desire.
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Example: A minimalist who finds joy in experiences over material things feels truly wealthy, realizing that less truly can be more.
These quotes reflect on the idea that true richness comes from contentment, meaningful relationships, and personal values rather than from material possession alone.
Conversely, quotes like "What you possess is not what defines you" serve to challenge conventional wisdom regarding identity and self-worth. They assert that the essence of an individual transcends material possessions, suggesting that true identity is shaped by values, beliefs, and experiences rather than the accumulation of wealth or goods. This dichotomy between materialism and self-definition resonates with many individuals, encouraging them to reconsider their priorities and the sources of their self-esteem.
These possession quotes resonate across diverse contexts, offering valuable insights into human behavior, societal expectations, and the philosophical implications of ownership. In a world where consumerism often dominates, such reflections invite individuals to engage critically with the significance of their possessions and the motivations behind their desires. Ultimately, the exploration of possession through these quotes reveals a rich tapestry of thought that highlights the intricate relationship between what we own and who we are, urging a deeper understanding of the true meaning of ownership beyond mere physical belongings.
Thought of the day Possession
A man's real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, in nothing else is he poor.
Alexander Smith Thoughts
Many possessions, if they do not make a man better, are at least expected to make his children happier; and this pathetic hope is behind many exertions. Karl von Humboldt |
Some men are born to own; can animate all their possessions. Others cannot; Their owning is not graceful; seems to be a compromise of their character; they seem to steal their own dividends. Ralph Waldo Emerson |
The desire for possession is insatiable, to such a point that it can survive even love itself. To love, therefore, is to sterelize the person one loves. Albert Camus |
Nobody has ever looked at me the way he’s looking at me at this moment. Like I’m his possession. Like if anyone else were to touch me, he’d break both their legs and an arm for good measure. - A. Zavarelli |
The belief in Limitation is the basis of all jealousy, and jealousy leads to Possession. Possession is the idea that you must hold tightly to that which you love or it might escape. In truth, it does not escape. It loses its value to the holder and often creates contempt. True power attracts the sweet pleasure of liberation within the harmony of love. - Deborah Bravandt |
Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions. Peace Pilgrim |
The belongings people accumulate throughout their lives will always own them. People seem to think if they had more they'd be happier or freer, but their possessions only chain them to the earth. Sarah Noffke |
Your most precious possession is not your financial assets. Your most precious possession is the people you have working there, and what they carry around in their heads, and their ability to work together. Robert Reich |
What is it about possessing things? Why do we feel the need to own what we love? And why do we become such jerks when we do? We've all been there. You want something, you possess it - and by possessing it, you lose it. Louis Chunovic |
Whoever possessed knowledge not only had power over the changeable passions of people, but also power over their thinking, over their minds, hearts and souls. Peter Prange |
Possession Quotes List |
We possess nothing certainly except the past. - Possession Quotes by Evelyn Waugh |
Understand that the only possession of any value is life. - Andre Gide |
Each possession I own is but a stone around my neck. - A Quotation From Albert Einstein |
The possession of anything begins in the mind. - Possession Quotes by Bruce Lee |
The things you own end up owning you. Chuck Palahniuk Quotation |
He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss. Leonardo da Vinci |
An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit. - Pliny the Younger |
Beauty and desire to possess have driven men mad for centuries. - Hannah Rothschild |
Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness. John Ruskin |
Marriage and its entourage of possession and jealousy enslave the spirit. - Irvin D. Yalom |
Values that people possess are worth more than material possession. Sunday Adelaja |
The possessions themselves were not the problem, it was my relationship with possessing. - Chris Matakas |
Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. Abraham Lincoln |
Love is about giving freedom and power, not about gaining control or possession. - Jeffrey Fry |
Possessions are usually diminished by possession. Friedrich Nietzsche |
The lawmakers possess the authority that commands the obedience of the people. - Sunday Adelaja |
A man's real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, in nothing else is he poor. Alexander Smith * |
Possession isn't nine-tenths of the law. It's nine-tenths of the problem. John Lennon |
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you. Hear it, feel it, Secretly possess you. - Charles Hart |
If we fear loss enough, in the end the things we possess will come to possess us. - Rachel Naomi Remen |
Possession without obligation to the object possessed approaches felicity. Gerge Meredith |
When I hear that "Possession is the grave of love," I remember that a religion may begin with the resurrection. - F.H. Bradley |
Perhaps a sense of possessing needs to come to come before a sense of genuine sharing. Stephen R. Covey |
Fifty percent of something is better than one hundred percent of nothing. Chuck Barris |
Possession means to sit astride the world instead of having it astride of you. Charles Kingsley |
Nothing can be so perfect while we possess it as it will seem when remembered. Oliver Wendell Holmes |
An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit. Pliny The Younger |
One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession. Sophocles |
Much of human history has consisted of unequal conflicts between the haves and the have-nots. - Jared Diamond |
The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman's heart. Anonymous |
The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is his personal dignity. Jackie Robinson |
We think that by possessing talent or beauty we possess something, but we are the ones who are possessed. - Marty Rubin |
Complete possession is proved only by giving. All you are unable to give possesses you. Andre Gide |
Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion. Mahatma Gandhi |
The possession of land seems to be a greater gratification to the pride and independence of men. George Minot |
There is, of course, a difference between what a man seizes and what he really possesses. Pearl Buck |
Much of human history has consisted of unequal conflicts between the haves and the have-nots. Jared Diamond |
Why grab possessions like thieves, or divide them like socialists, when you can ignore them like wise men? Natalie Clifford Barney |
He that sets not his heart on what he possesses, forsaketh all things, though he keep his possessions. Francis Quarles |
Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how how happy those are who already possess it. - Possession Thoughts by Francois de La Rochefoucauld Download or Share |
Desire makes everything blossom; possession makes everything wither and fade. - Marcel Proust Download or Share |
Possession is eleven points in the law. - Possession Quotes by Colley Cibber Download or Share |
Every increased possession loads us with new weariness. - John Ruskin Download or Share |
To have little is to possess. - Lao-tzu Download or Share |
It is through creating, not possessing, that life is revealed. - Vida D. Scudder Download or Share |
An object in possession seldom retains the same that it had in pursuit. - Pliny the Younger Download or Share |
The wise man carries his possessions within him. Bisa Download or Share |
The greatest treasure in life is the possession of time. - Sunday Adelaja Download or Share |
The wavering mind is but a base possession. - Euripides Download or Share |
I have everything, yet have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want. - Terence Download or Share |
Oh no." I said panic rising in my chest. "No, no, no, Somebody get a can opener. I've got a god in my head! - Rick Riordan |
When you have the power of time, you can take possession of your time, there is nothing you cannot become. - Sunday Adelaja |
The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery. Anais Nin |
People who have few possessions cling tightly to those they have. That is one of the facts that make life so discouraging. Sherwood Anderson |
Whoever possessed knowledge not only had power over the changeable passions of people, but also power over their thinking, over their minds, hearts and souls. - Peter Prange |
Possession gives a right, so far as man is concerned, to unmolested enjoyment, unless someone else can establish a better title. Francis Wayland |
There is one possession that can never be taken away as long as you will not allow it to be taken, and that is your word. Bill Courtney |
Possessions are mere transient effects that come when they are required, and after their purpose has been served, pass away. James Allen |
It is not the possession of truth, but the success which attends the seeking after it, that enriches the seeker and brings happiness to him. Max Planck |
The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace. Carlos Santana |
Most people take health at face value. Quite often people understand that health is the most valuable possession only after they become seriously ill. - Eraldo Banovac Thoughts |
To own something means that it is so small in stature and importance that it can be possessed. And I don’t know if there’s anything in life that’s really that small. - Craig D. Lounsbrough Thought |
Renee's self-possession, her ability to possess other selves, is a measure of the weakness of her husband, his inability to stop his own self from splitting in half. - Greil Marcus |
Even the most beautiful scenery is no longer assured of our love after we have lived in it for three months, and some distant coast attracts our avarice: possessions are generally diminished by possession. - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche |
The tragedy of life, Mitchell, happens because you can never have everything and because you will even lose the graces you have once possessed. - Noha Alaa El-Din |
The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled. Andrew Carnegie |
Possession hinders enjoyment. It merely gives you the right to keep things for or from others, and thus you gain more enemies than friends. Baltasar Gracian |
Man should not consider his material possession his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need. Thomas Aquinas |
We do not attach ourselves permanently to any possessions, excepting in proportion to the trouble, toil and longing which they have cost us. Honore de Balzac |
When one has achieved the object of one's desires, it is evident that one's real desire was not the ignorant possession of the desired object but to know it as possessed - as actually contemplated, as within one. - Plotinus |
You are my own. You are my own. He had not meant the words in that way. He had been talking strictly about possession. But oh, the longing for his love was an unbearably painful ache in her. - Mary Balogh |
It appears that ordinary men take wives because possession is not possible without marriage, and that ordinary women accept husbands because marriage is not possible without possession - Thomas Hardy |
