How to Read “The wealthy never tire of riches”
Chōja tomi ni akazu
Meaning of “The wealthy never tire of riches”
“The wealthy never tire of riches” means that rich people are never satisfied no matter how much wealth they have.
Even people who already have plenty of money keep seeking more. They never think “this is enough.” This proverb describes this aspect of human nature.
People use this saying when they observe wealthy people’s behavior. They say it when they see rich people pursuing even more profit.
Sometimes it carries a critical tone. Other times it simply states a fact about human desire in a calm way.
Even today, business owners and investors with huge fortunes keep expanding their businesses. They keep chasing more profits. This is not unusual at all.
This proverb helps us understand such behavior. It makes us think “yes, that’s just how humans are.”
It expresses a paradoxical truth in simple words. The wealthier people are, the less they know satisfaction.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written record explains where this proverb came from. However, we can learn interesting things by looking at how the words are put together.
“Chōja” has been used in Japan since ancient times. It refers to a wealthy person who owns a lot of property.
“Akazu” in “tomi ni akazu” is interesting. In modern Japanese, “akiru” means “to get tired of something.” But in classical Japanese, “akazu” meant “to be satisfied” or “to be fulfilled.”
So this proverb says “those who have wealth are never satisfied with their riches.” It expresses something fundamental about human nature.
This expression was born from observing human desire over many centuries. In Japan, merchants and landowners who accumulated wealth were always visible in society.
Common people watched these wealthy individuals closely. They noticed something striking. No matter how much property these people had, they kept seeking more.
Buddhist thought may have influenced this proverb too. Buddhism emphasizes warnings against human worldly desires, especially greed.
The observation that wealthy people cannot escape from desire matches this religious understanding of human nature.
Though the words are simple, the expression sharply captures the essence of human desire. This is probably why people have passed it down through generations.
Usage Examples
- That company president has already made hundreds of millions, but he’s starting another new business. It’s truly “The wealthy never tire of riches.”
- They say “The wealthy never tire of riches,” and maybe successful people naturally aim even higher.
Universal Wisdom
“The wealthy never tire of riches” shows us a universal truth. Human desire has no end. But why can’t people find satisfaction?
The answer is that desire is relative, not absolute.
When you don’t have something, you think “if I had that much, I’d be happy.” But once you get it, something changes. You start noticing people who have even more.
Your comparison target shifts. Your standard for satisfaction rises too.
One million yen seemed like a fortune. But the moment you get it, ten million becomes your new goal. The wealthier you become, the more you compare yourself to even wealthier people.
There’s an even deeper reason. Humans are creatures who fear loss. The more you have, the more you can lose.
So you try to accumulate even more. You seek wealth to feel secure. But as your wealth grows, your anxiety grows too.
This contradictory psychology creates an endless pursuit.
This proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years. Why? Because human nature doesn’t change even when times do.
Ancient wealthy merchants and modern billionaires share the same human heart. The inability to know satisfaction may be deeply carved into what it means to be human.
When AI Hears This
Economics teaches us something interesting. As money increases, the joy from each additional 10,000 yen gets smaller.
For someone earning 3 million yen yearly, 100,000 yen means much more than for someone earning 30 million yen. So wealthy people should be more satisfied, right? But reality shows the opposite.
Brain science has revealed something important. The human reward system doesn’t respond to absolute amounts. It responds to “gaps from prediction.”
The brain releases dopamine and creates pleasure when something is “more than expected.” But wealthy people have a problem. Through repeated success, their brain’s expectation level itself rises.
Someone who felt joy at earning 10 million yen reaches 30 million. Now 50 million becomes the natural target. Scientists call this reference point shift.
Even more interesting is this: wealthy people become sensitive to opportunity loss. They think “I could have earned more.”
An investor makes 1 million yen profit. But they regret “I could have made another 500,000.” Poor people feel satisfied with what they gained. Wealthy people count what they didn’t gain.
The brain’s reward system switches to comparison mode. It stops responding to absolute abundance. Instead, it responds to relative ranking and growth rate.
This phenomenon contradicts economic predictions. But it matches how the brain actually works. This is the neuroscientific reason why the wealthy can never feel satisfied.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the importance of “knowing enough.” Seeking more is not bad at all. Ambition and the desire to grow enrich our lives.
But if your heart can never be satisfied, you won’t feel happy no matter how successful you become.
What matters is defining your own “enough.” Don’t compare yourself to others. Look at what you truly need and what you want to value.
Don’t focus only on numbers like income or savings. Pay attention to invisible wealth too. Time abundance, quality of relationships, peace of mind—these matter just as much.
This proverb is both a warning and an invitation to freedom. When you break free from the spell of “more, more,” something happens.
For the first time, you notice the value of what you already have.
Knowing satisfaction is not giving up. It’s the first step toward true abundance.
Don’t live a life chased by wealth. Choose a life that uses wealth well. This is the wisdom we need for living in the modern world.
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