"We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without."
— Immanuel Kant
We Are Not Rich By What
We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without.
About this quote
This saying is widely attributed to Kant but no specific primary source — no chapter, page, or verified Kant text — has been identified by researchers. While the sentiment aligns with Kantian themes of moral autonomy and non-materialism (Kant valued rational self-sufficiency over the satisfaction of inclinations), the lack of a traceable original suggests it may be a paraphrase or a summary by a later commentator. It should be treated as attributed rather than verified.
Source
Attributed, from lectures on ethics
