Q0133
“Wealth does not take away need — it kindles new wants.” — Boethius (The Consolation of Philosophy, Book III)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: The Consolation of Philosophy, Book III. Theme: desire.
English
Wealth does not take away need — it kindles new wants.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to The Consolation of Philosophy, Book III and files it under Neoplatonism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (c. 480–524/5) was a Roman statesman and philosopher who translated Aristotle’s logic into Latin and wrote the Consolation of Philosophy in prison under Theodoric.
How to read this passage
Ethics and moral psychology analyze appetite, love, ambition, and addiction. Stoic, Buddhist, and psychoanalytic traditions treat desire as trainable rather than merely given. This passage enters that discussion through desire.
Concepts in this quote
- Desire
- Desire drives action and suffering alike; philosophy asks which desires to educate, restrain, or affirm.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Boethius. (n.d.). Wealth does not take away need — it kindles new wants. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0133
MLA: Boethius. “Wealth does not take away need — it….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0133.
Chicago: Boethius. “Wealth does not take away need — it….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0133.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Wealth does not take away need — it…”?
The passage is attributed to Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, Book III. The archive attributes this English wording to The Consolation of Philosophy, Book III and files it under Neoplatonism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Boethius mean by desire?
Ethics and moral psychology analyze appetite, love, ambition, and addiction. Stoic, Buddhist, and psychoanalytic traditions treat desire as trainable rather than merely given. This passage enters that discussion through desire.