"Beaucoup de possessions, si elles ne rendent pas un homme meilleur, sont un fardeau et un tourment pour lui."
— George Santayana
Simplified Meaning:
When people have many things but they don’t help them grow or become better, those things can actually make their life harder and more stressful. Imagine a person who owns lots of gadgets, clothes, and cars. If these items don’t add real value to his life, keeping track of them, maintaining them, or dealing with them can feel overwhelming. For example, someone might have a huge house filled with expensive furniture and decorations. If they spend all their time worrying about keeping these things safe and in good condition, they might not have time to enjoy their life or develop meaningful relationships. In history, there are many stories of wealthy people who had everything money could buy but were still unhappy or stressed. It’s a reminder that just having stuff isn’t what makes life good; it’s how these things help you live better and happier. Using this advice, someone can focus on owning items that really improve their life, and not just accumulate things that create more work and worry.