1,220 Quotes About Greed

Renunciation is actually a result of the unfolding karma, whereas saiyam, a state in which there is absence of anger-pride-deceit-greed and attachment-abhorrence, is a result of understanding.

One may even have ‘greed’ for self-respect. Greed gives rise to circumstances. When circumstance arises, worldly life arises.

Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari [living a worldly life] regardless of whether one is an ascetic or a family man. And where anger-pride-deceit-greed are absent, one is regarded as being asansaari [non-worldly], be he an ascetic or a family man.

It is called saiyam [inner control] when anger-pride-deceit-greed are under control. However those who renounce are not called saiyami [those with inner control]; they are called ‘tyagi’, one who renounces worldly life.

The kashays (inner anger, pride, deceit and greed) that keep one entrenched in the coolness of the worldly life are the very thing that makes one wander life after life.

Take only as much as you need. Anything more is nothing but greed.

This world exists because of greed. If you like to eat ‘jalebi’ (Indian sweet), and you are given three pieces while another person is given four pieces; you will get agitated in your mind! This is greed indeed. If you have three saris and you go out and buy a fourth one, it is greed!

We are living the American Dream, which is, of course, to benefit from someone else’s misfortune.

Greed is a contagious mental illness without which civilization as we know it would not have been possible.