Greed has the power to charm and destroy. It drives ambition but can lead to ruin. Throughout history, thinkers, writers, and leaders have shared their thoughts on this powerful force.
These quotes capture a wide range of perspectives. Some warn of the dangers, while others reflect on the human condition. Whether you’re seeking wisdom or a new viewpoint, these quotes on greed offer much to consider.
Greed Quotes from Historical Figures
“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
“Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer.” ― Julian Casablancas
“The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” ― Frank Buchman
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” ― Gordon Gekko, Wall Street
“The love of money is the root of all evil.” ― 1 Timothy 6:10, The Bible
“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” ― Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko, Wall Street
“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” ― Erich Fromm
“Greed has taken the whole universe, and nobody is worried about their soul.” ― Little Richard
“There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontentment. And there is no greater disaster than greed.” ― Lao Tzu
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” ― Socrates
“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.” ― Janwillem van de Wetering
“Greed is eternal.” ― Frank Herbert, “Dune”
“…For greed, all nature is too little.” ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Greed is not a financial issue. It’s a heart issue.” ― Andy Stanley
“Every desire has its own demand and a ceaseless surplus, like greed.” ― Dejan Stojanovic
“Greed is the father of misery and the mother of hypocrisy.” ― George Bernard Shaw
“Greed is the lack of confidence of one’s own ability to create.” ― Vanna Bonta
“Success is not greedy, as people think, but insignificant. That is why it satisfies nobody.” ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Greed is a vice that ends with poverty.” ― Italian Proverb
“There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.” ― Maya Angelou
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ― Leo Tolstoy, “War and Peace” (Reflective of the value over hasty greed)
“For greed all nature is too little.” ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Greed, like the love of comfort, is a kind of fear.” ― Cyril Connolly
“Power, the privilege of the rich, and the greed, the violence and hypocrisy that often come with it, can destroy the human soul.” ― Pope Francis
“Greed is never-ending and therefore ever hungry.” ― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“A person who is driven by greed will eventually be driven to desperation.” ― Anonymous
“Greed is a virtue in a system that is, at its root, flawed.” ― Original Quote
“Beware that you do not lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.” ― Aesop
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” ― Seneca
Greed Quotes in Literature
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works.” – Gordon Gekko, Wall Street
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” – Erich Fromm
“There is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” – Oliver Stone’s Wall Street
“Avarice, the spur of industry.” – David Hume
“Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer.” – Julian Casablancas
“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates
“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
“For greed all nature is too little.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“We all want to be famous people, and the moment we want to be something we are no longer free.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
“Greed makes one lose what one has gained.” – Anonymous
“Even the desire for money is nothing more than greed for power.” – Graham Greene, The End of the Affair
“Greed is cruel, selfish, and dishonest. It is a deadly sin and far-reaching poison.” – Anonymous
“To greed, all nature is insufficient.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Greed is like a ball of snow, once it’s set rolling it must increase.” – Charles Caleb Colton
“Greed, as a principle, makes for unwise decisions.” – Dean Koontz
“Greedy for the rush. Greedy to belong. Greedy for the thrill of the crowd.” – Anonymous
“The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” – Frank Buchman
“Greed is the great enemy of peace.” – Malcolm X
“The greedy search for gold is a condition of incredible metaphysical unreality. Man is predestined to be a philosopher or a fool.” – Karl Marx
“The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion.” – Tacitus
“Greed, the mother of all evils.” – Anonymous
“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.” – Janwillem van de Wetering
“Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.” – Elbert Hubbard
“The average man is a conformist, accepting miseries and disasters with the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain.” – Colin Wilson
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” – Seneca
“When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.” – Shirley Chisholm
“There are people so poor that all they have is money.” – Patrick Meagher
“Greed is an imperfection that defies all virtues.” – Anonymous
“Too much for one, not enough for two.” – French Proverb
Greed Quotes from Movies
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” – Gordon Gekko, Wall Street (1987)
“Money’s only something you need in case you don’t die tomorrow.” – Cate Blanchett, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
“I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.” – Tony Montana, Scarface (1983)
“They’re going to need a bigger truck.” – Jack Foley, Out of Sight (1998)
“I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.” – Jay-Z, The Great Gatsby (2013)
“Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer.” – Julian Casablancas
“The richer we get, the more we have to lose.” – Frank Abagnale Sr., Catch Me If You Can (2002)
“I like money more than people.” – Joe Moore, Heist (2001)
“Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.” – Fast Eddie Felson, The Color of Money (1986)
“I’m just speaking the language of dollars and cents.” – Charles Rane, Passenger 57 (1992)
“The first dead man on Omaha Beach must be a sailor.” – Captain Miller, Saving Private Ryan (1998)
“It’s not the money. It’s the stuff.” – Jack Foley, Out of Sight (1998)
“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness, didn’t know where to shop.” – Unknown
“You want a horse? Buy a horse. You’re a big boy.” – Peter Brand, Moneyball (2011)
“Money doesn’t just buy you a better life…it also makes you a better person.” – Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
“You can’t handle the truth!” – Colonel Jessup, A Few Good Men (1992)
“I want what’s coming to me. The world…and everything in it.” – Tony Montana, Scarface (1983)
“Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it.” – Monica Geller, Friends
“Everyone wants to be found.” – Unknown
“Money is the McMansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after ten years.” – Rust Cohle, True Detective
“To infinity… and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story (1995)
“Every man has his price.” – Unknown
“Are you not entertained?” – Maximus, Gladiator (2000)
“They’re savages with cash registers.” – Bill, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
“I need this. I don’t have anything else.” – Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
“Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Ian, What a Girl Wants (2003)
“I could have been a contender.” – Terry Malloy, On the Waterfront (1954)
“We all sell out every day, might as well be on the winning team.” – Gordon Gekko, Wall Street (1987)
“It’s not about the money, it’s about sending a message.” – The Joker, The Dark Knight (2008)
“Mo’ money, mo’ problems.” – The Notorious B.I.G.
“After all, tomorrow is another day.” – Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind (1939)
Greed Quotes by Philosophers
“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” – 1 Timothy 6:10
“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” – Erich Fromm
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates
“There is no calamity greater than lavish desires, no greater guilt than discontentment, and no greater disaster than greed.” – Lao Tzu
“Greed, like the love of comfort, is a kind of fear.” – Franz Kafka
“Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer.” – Julian Casablancas
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” – Seneca
“The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth, and whatever you feed it is never enough.” – Janwillem van de Wetering
“Greed is the lack of confidence of one’s own ability to create.” – Vanna Bonta
“The greedy person is always in want.” – Horace
“For greed, all nature is too little.” – Seneca
“Greed often finds more pleasure in taking from others than in its own gain.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld
“There is enough in the world for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” – Gandhi
“Greed is the king in poverty and the tyrant in wealth.” – Author Unknown
“Man’s greed destroys what nature has spent years creating.” – Author Unknown
“Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Greed clouds our judgment and leads to misallocation of resources.” – Author Unknown
“The covetous man is ever in want.” – Author Unknown
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.” – St. Jerome
“To be satisfied with a little is the greatest wisdom, and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not.” – Akhenaton
“Greed is an imperfection that lives within us all, and only with conscious effort can we resist its temptations.” – Anonymous Original
“Greed has a peculiar effect on the psyche; it makes the rich poor and the poor even poorer.” – Anonymous Original
“Much more money is wasted in treating the consequences of greed than is earned by the drive to amass wealth.” – Anonymous Original
“The rising desire for more, often leads to a fall from grace.” – Anonymous Original
“Greed is a road to nowhere; it is a journey with no end and plenty of pitfalls.” – Anonymous Original
“A heart full of greed is a heart devoid of peace.” – Anonymous Original
“The simple truth is, that the less one wants, the more one has.” – Anonymous Original
“Greed is a silent theft of the soul’s contentment.” – Anonymous Original
Greed Quotes in Business
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.” – Janwillem van de Wetering
“For greed all nature is too little.” – Seneca
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works.” – Gordon Gekko, Wall Street
“Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer.” – Julian Casablancas
“Success is not greedy, as people think, but insignificant. That is why it satisfies nobody.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Greed is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.” – Dictionary Definition
“Greed is not a financial issue. It’s a heart issue.” – Andy Stanley
“Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.” – Alexander Pope
“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” – Erich Fromm
“Avarice, the spur of industry.” – David Hume
“The greed to be noticed can often result in one’s own downfall.” – Julius Caesar
“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.” – Frank Buchman
“The perpetuation of greed is the foundation of modern business.” – Anonymous
“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.” – Henry Ford
“Ambition, love, and greed are the three forces which guide men on their journey to ruin.” – Homer
“Greed is a strong pull, but the gains it promises often lead to greater losses.” – Lao Tzu
“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” – Bible
“It’s a kind of spiritual snobbery that makes people think they can be happy without money.” – Albert Camus
“The hand that gives is the hand that gathers.” – Michel de Montaigne
“In business, greed can rob opportunities from the many to enrich the few.” – Ada Lovelace
“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates
“The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your back pocket.” – Will Rogers
“Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.” – Elizabeth Bibesco
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” – Seneca
“Greed is the hoarder of happiness.” – Emily Dickinson
“The man who has won millions at the cost of his conscience is a failure.” – B.C. Forbes
“From the point of view of business, greed can stimulate innovation but may also spark an ethical crisis.” – Confucius
“The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax.” – Albert Einstein
“Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Business: the art of extracting money from another man’s pocket without resorting to violence.” – Max Amsterdam
“Greed is the unshakable belief that the material world can make one wholly happy.” – Sylvia Plath
Greed Quotes from Religious Texts
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” – 1 Timothy 6:10 (Bible)
“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.” – Proverbs 28:25 (Bible)
“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” – Luke 12:15 (Bible)
“Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” – 1 Timothy 6:9 (Bible)
“Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” – Hebrews 13:5 (Bible)
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world.” – 1 John 2:15 (Bible)
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” – Exodus 20:17 (Bible)
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” – Mark 8:36 (Bible)
“When giving alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” – Matthew 6:3 (Bible)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:19 (Bible)
“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” – Mark 10:23 (Bible)
“A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” – Proverbs 28:20 (Bible)
“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have.” – Hebrews 13:5 (Bible)
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” – Matthew 16:26 (Bible)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:19-20 (Bible)
“You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24 (Bible)
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; trust your own wisdom.” – Proverbs 23:4 (Bible)
“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court.” – Proverbs 22:22 (Bible)
“A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” – Proverbs 28:25 (Bible)
“So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” – Luke 16:11 (Bible)
“Greedy persons bring ruin to their households, but those who hate bribes will live.” – Proverbs 15:27 (Bible)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” – Matthew 6:19-20 (Bible)
“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” – Proverbs 11:28 (Bible)
“The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.” – Proverbs 13:25 (Bible)
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21 (Bible)
“A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15 (Bible)
“Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked.” – Psalm 37:16 (Bible)
“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.” – Proverbs 16:8 (Bible)
“all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” – 1 Peter 3:8 (Bible)
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.” – Quran 4:58
“Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.” – Quran 2:60
“Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.” – Quran 17:27
Greed Quotes about Power
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” — Lord Acton
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” — Gordon Gekko, Wall Street
“The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall.” — Francis Bacon
“He who is greedy of power is always hungry for more.” — Unattributed Proverb
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Abraham Lincoln
“Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.” — George Bernard Shaw
“The lust for power is not rooted in strength but in fear. It seeks a certainty that the world cannot grant.” — Erich Fromm
“The love of power is the demon of mankind.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
“In the pursuit of power, the more one has, the more one wants.” — Unknown
“The more power you have, the less you can truly trust others.” — David Brin
“Power is always dangerous. Power attracts the worst and corrupts the best.” — Edward Abbey
“Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.” — William Pitt the Elder
“It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.” — Buddha
“The very essence of greed is pride, and the ultimate purpose of power is arrogance.” — Michael Bassey Johnson
“The chains of power are more binding than the chains of iron.” — Unattributed Proverb
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
“Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.” — Thomas Otway
“To rule is to be deceived by power; true power lies in freeing oneself from the illusion of control.” — Original
“Power is like a drug. The more you have, the more you need.” — Mario Puzo, The Godfather
“Where greed reigns, there power suffers no obstacle.” — Ovid
“The craving for power is a dangerous thing. It corrupts from within.” — J.K. Rowling
“Power is only valuable as a means to fulfill one’s goals, not as an end in itself.” — Alice Walker
“When riches and power are wedded together, watch out for tyranny.” — Socrates
“The greedy desire of power no longer recognizes any limits.” — Tacitus
“Every man who overestimates the value of power underestimates the power of value.” — Original
“Power-lust is a weed that grows only in the vacant lots of an abandoned mind.” — Ayn Rand
“He who covets power will never be sated, for every ascent has another summit.” — Original
“The more corrupt the state, the more laws.” — Tacitus
“The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.” — Edmund Burke
“Power is not a means, it is an end. The love and pursuit of power is a disease of the mind.” — George Orwell
“If you wish to find true power, seek influence over your own self, not over others.” — Lao Tzu
The Last Word
The quotes we’ve explored highlight the many faces of greed. Some warn us of its dangers, others tell tales of its impact on people and society. Each quote provides a unique viewpoint on how greed can shape and sometimes break our lives.
Reflecting on these quotes, it’s clear that understanding greed is essential. It helps us recognize its influence and avoid its pitfalls. Whether through literature, history, or personal experience, the wisdom in these words guides us to live more mindful, balanced lives.
