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-   -   "Money doesn't buy happiness." (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=237178)

Nick November 21st, 2010 3:20 PM

"Money doesn't buy happiness."
 
How do you feel about this quote? Do you think money can buy happiness? Do you believe money can fix anything if you have enough of it? Is having money like having a superpower?

Rogue planet November 21st, 2010 3:26 PM

Money can often help us cut down on stress levels. If I'm not worrying about my finances then it gives me more time to focus on other things. Plus having the money to live in a nice place, with a nice house and nice decorations etc. can have quite an impact on your general happiness and mental outlook on life. It takes away one of the big worries and can make your life a hell of a lot easier.

But no. Money can't buy happiness. You can be the richest wo/man in the world, but still be sad, lonely etc. Or the poorest person, but still have a lot of friends and a positive outlook. I think money is totally irrelevant to someone's happiness, if you're already a happy person then having money can make you even happier; but it can't make a sad person happy.

Eucliffe November 21st, 2010 3:29 PM

Society needs to fix that quote. Cash = the currency. Money = the stuff you buy with cash.

Cash can only buy material things. Happiness, like air or love, is not something that is material. Therefore, it can't be bought. And whoever thinks it can is either very egotistical or has no real friendships.

Them Bones November 21st, 2010 3:31 PM

Yes, money can buy happiness, because if you have enough of it, then you can buy anything your heart desires. Well, except for love, friends, and family.

Captain Fabio November 21st, 2010 4:26 PM

I disagree to a certain extent with the whole quote.

Money causes a lot of stress to families and people and with a healthy money level, unhappiness is reduced. If I had a nice level of money, then I would be happy. But I agree that if you have a stupid amont, then people will look to take advantage of you and only want your money.

Limey-chan November 21st, 2010 4:32 PM

I'd feel satisfied if I had money, like a safe, secure amount to sort me out for life (House, car, etc etc). But would I be happy if I was ridiculously rich? No. And in that sense I agree with the quote.

Happiness for me would be just enough but not too much.

Agent Clank November 21st, 2010 4:46 PM

No I don't think people can buy happiness, because happiness comes naturally.

TRIFORCE89 November 21st, 2010 5:08 PM

I hate that quote.

I'd be plenty happy with money. If you're not, feel free to give it to me. I'll take it off your hands.

Phantasmagoria November 21st, 2010 5:14 PM

Money, in a way, can give us happiness for a limit about of time, because we're happy when we acquire the thing we want. However, that happiness doesn't last forever, and eventually we're just going to want something else.

Things that are materialistic, like love and friends, are things that can last forever, and thus is what actually brings us happiness. Not money.

TRIFORCE89 November 21st, 2010 6:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantasmagoria (Post 6300934)
Money, in a way, can give us happiness for a limit about of time, because we're happy when we acquire the thing we want. However, that happiness doesn't last forever, and eventually we're just going to want something else.

Things that are materialistic, like love and friends, are things that can last forever, and thus is what actually brings us happiness. Not money.

Both can bring happiness.

A big house makes me happy. Having friends in my big house makes me happy too.

Sammi November 21st, 2010 7:16 PM

I don't agree for the most part. Having nice stuff is always a plus in my book. It certainly makes me happier. :) However, I do think that in addition to material things, the relationships with others makes you happy. So perhaps it alone doesn't make you your happiest. If that makes any sense at all. I didn't think so.

PlatinumDude November 21st, 2010 7:34 PM

I agree with that quote. The amount of money you have doesn't matter as long as you have enough to sustain yourself throughout life.

femtrooper November 21st, 2010 7:43 PM

Sure money doesn't buy family and love, but it does buy some amount of happiness.

Is living in the slums happiness? Is having no money to pay your rent or buy food happiness? Is never being able to travel happiness? No.

Money buys those things and I personally think it does create some happiness. I am financially stable, and I am happy. I have the best family in the world too and the best boyfriend, which obviously I didn't pay for, but I have had the privilege to explore the world, get a great education, and not have to worry about when I eat next, or when if I'll have to go to the shelter tonight.

Although some may disagree, I believe that it does create some happiness. You can have the best family in the world, but if you don't have any money to eat or no roof above your head, how happy can you be? I'm not saying you have to be a millionaire, but you should be stable, ya know? Ask the homeless man how happy he is.

Jack O'Neill November 21st, 2010 10:35 PM

Money may not buy happiness, but it certainly helps. It's all too easy to underestimate the influence that financial stability has on a person's well-being.

King Gumball November 21st, 2010 11:44 PM

Yes money can buy happiness, but it can also cause you to lose happiness more often than to gain. I will cause you to become greedy, no matter how pure hearted you may be. We are all human so it is impossible to escape greed. However generally speaking I dont really think much or the saying. I would love to have a lot of money, it will make me happy. But I wouldn't want too much, as that will cause a heap of issues.

Cold Fusion November 22nd, 2010 3:12 AM

I've talked to a man before who had basically no money at all, just a very small amount, and he said that money was everything to him and I (I was seven years old at this point) had this discussion with him. We actually became quite close even if we only met that once. Wonderful guy.

In it's own way yes, it can bring a certain amount of happiness to people, having a shiny new purchase can make a person happy, or even just getting that money placed into your hands for some people who don't have much money at all. But that amount of happiness is limited. Money can be a downfall too especially if a person has so much they become greedy about everything, no-one will not become greedy. Think about when people are asked "What would you do with -insert a large amount of money-?". I know that there is those few who will say charity but it's not that common. As long as you have enough to sustain your life style then you'll be happy with money but, the people around you are what are going to bring the most happiness. They can give you love, care, and happiness all in one. Nothing is better than the people who love and care for you in my opinion. Even at the hardest times they are just there. So no. Money alone doesn't give full happiness, it gives a small amount, but additional things on top will bring out your full potential of happiness. Neither can it fix everything. It can again, fix a limited amount of things, but there are some things that you have to fix yourself.

As for the saying, I really don't dislike or like the saying. I've never really paid much attention to it. To me, it's a bunch of words made into a sentence that people may or may not agree with. But in it's way it can be certainly be agreed with or, of course, not agreed with.

Livewire November 22nd, 2010 2:04 PM

Money doesn't buy happiness. When somebody says that, I think they're misappropriating where the happiness comes from. It comes form what is obtained, not the actual act of obtaining, if you understand what I'm saying. I'm happy because I have an X-Box, not because I have money to buy it. Saying money brings happiness (in it's entirety) is a tad superficial and naive.

Bologna November 23rd, 2010 11:50 PM

You can be happy with or without money. But does it have the ability to buy happiness? Possibly so.. I suppose it would depend on the person, or even the definition of happiness. Money can buy things, such as the ability to do things, like... go bowling, or go to an amusement park. And you can take the people that you enjoy spending time with to these events/places/whatever, and spending time with them would make you happy. But even if you didn't have the money to do these things, you could still spend time with the same people, just not doing those things, and still be happy in the end. Still, saying that "Money doesn't buy happiness" isn't entirely true, because it could, potentially, buy happiness. Or it could not. People can be happy with or without money. People can also be unhappy with or without money.

Can money fix anything? No. Money can not change personalities, it can not make you a better person unless you yourself decide to use it in a manner that would make you a better person.

Is having money like having a superpower? I suppose that would depend on the definition of superpower. Money certainly is not something that is above and beyond all else. Anyone could obtain money with some effort, maybe not huge sums of money, but money in general. If a superpower is supposedly something unique, unnatural, superhuman, then having money most certainly is nothing like having a superpower.

KanadeTenshi November 24th, 2010 3:09 AM

Money can't buy happiness. But, happiness changes from person to person; someone can be happy with lots of money and for someone else it might not help much.
I think money might be a way to obtain happiness, not buying it. It's an indirect way, depending on how happiness is defined for another person.

ANARCHit3cht November 24th, 2010 5:21 AM

I think that this quote could go either way. It depends on how and where you came from.

If you were born to into a lavish lifestyle of luxury, then you might take money for granted. If that is the case, when you realize that, that is really all you have, it kind of leaves a whole in you. Thus, the money is kind of grotesque in the fact that without it, you have nothing. Now, that isn't to say that all rich people are lonely, just that a lot of them don't really realize what they have. That life style is what they know.

On the other side, if you were born into a life of poverty or forever slaving away at a busywork job, then you would be one happy mother trucker to get a load of cash. You wouldn't have anything to worry about if you suddenly came into enough money to cover you for the rest of your lfe, and to have genuine entertainment. As for me, I would be extremely happy if I could buy everything I wanted. No, I don't want to buy every two thousand dollar laptop, but when I go to the mall or something and see what I want that may be a bit pricey, it would be nice just to be able to take it off the rack and buy it.

In essence, money can't "buy" happiness. You can't hand someone a bag full of money of say, "Make me happy!" It doesn't work that way. Money is more so an indirect path to happiness. It all depends on how your traverse the trail as to when and f you get there. Personally, if I was to come into a sum of money, I would be an extremely happy person. I wouldn't go donating it all to charities, in fact, very little of it would be used in a way that doesn't benefit me or those close to me. That sounds selfish, and it kind of is -- I value my happiness way over that of others. They come second to me.

So... in a sense, money can buy happiness.

EDIT:

I would also like to add that you can be happy without money. You don't need it to be happy. Plenty of people are. I'm a rather happy person with how little I have, but I would be immensely more happy if I got more. Happiness in it purest form is simply that which makes you feel good. So, happiness can be anything, in any form. It can be money, people, food, or a hobby. So, although money is what will make some people happy, it won't work for others. They must find what makes them happy.

Elite Overlord LeSabre™ November 26th, 2010 4:27 AM

That quote doesn't apply to me.

Money allows me to purchase things that make me happy. Therefore, for me at least, money does indeed buy happiness. I know I'd be a bitter, unhappy person without money.

IceGod64 November 26th, 2010 6:59 AM

Money doesn't buy happiness, the happiness comes at no additional charge.

Lets face it, people say all the dumb stuff about "Money is the root of all evil", and things like that. Fact is, it's not the money that does the crime, it's people that do the the crime. Our entire economical world runs based on money - it's just a piece of paper that says "I'm worth something, and that something is food, a house, and a satisfactory life". From a physical standpoint, it's paper, nothing more. The entire point of money is what it means to have it.

The saying "Money is the root of all evil" is like saying "Guns kill people". A gun does nothing on it's own, it only does what the person holding it tells it too, and money is the same way. Money won't buy you a house all by itself, it's up to you to use it.

To get more back on topic, my point is that saying "Money doesn't buy happiness" is a mixed statement. No, money can't buy happiness.. But the fact is, every person in the world - EVERYONE, no exceptions - gets some sense of satisfaction from owning something expensive. You paid money for what you want, it's just the sense of knowing that you wanted it, and now you have it that is the happiness. Money didn't buy that, it just got you what you need to feel that way.

Edit: Additionally, remember that money is NOT the only way to get what you want, it's only the most safe and practical.

dragoniteuser November 26th, 2010 8:11 AM

Well this could be considered and interpreted in two ways.
1) No, "real" happiness, the one that comes from interaction with your family, and best friends, lover,... that kind of happiness could not be bought, no matter how money you have.
2) Sure you can! You go to an amusement park, and have a blast! You go on a shopping spree, travel around, etc. all those things require a lot of money, and they clearly make you happy!

pkmntrainerpaul November 26th, 2010 8:27 AM

I'd say, with money you could "buy" happiness, but that doesn't mean you are completely happy.
I mean, you don't have to have much money to be happy.

(Yes, it isn't strange to be completely confused by this)

Shanghai Alice November 26th, 2010 9:50 AM

Yeah, I'd agree with IceGod64 and LeSabre, to an extent.

Money, mixed in with moderation, and a basic level of intelligence, can indeed aid in the attaining of happiness.

If you become a megalomaniac, wall yourself off from everyone else, and decide to build a giant mansion and death ray, then no, you won't be happy.

If you use your vast, Mafia-tainted wealth for positive things, however...

For example, money can save more lives, as doctors are more motivated when they're offered more. It's not greed or evil, it's just fact. And practicality.

When I work hard, I'm satisfied. I like seeing that hard work become tangible (Aside from the fruits of my labor, because, oftentimes, we get paid when we work for others) in the form of printed currency. I further enjoy using that printed currency to buy books, so I can sort, alphabetize, and arrange by height order my vast, money-bought collection.


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