Arthur Schopenhauer, Ph.D., German Philosopher, Atheist

Consider, first, the absurdity of the desire for material goods. Fools believe that if they can only achieve wealth, their wills can be completely gratified; a man of means is supposed to be a man with means for the fulfilment of every desire… [A] life devoted to the acquisition of wealth is useless unless we know how to turn it into joy; and this is an art that requires culture and wisdom… Men are a thousand times more intent on becoming rich than on acquiring culture, though it is quite certain that what a man ‘is’ contributes more to his happiness than what he ‘has…’ Not wealth but wisdom is the Way… [O]ur happiness depends on what we have in our heads rather than on what we have in our pockets.