Is greed a character trait?
Life in the material world dictates its own rules. It is extremely difficult to imagine people who are able to completely give up money, comfort, pleasures and other “benefits of civilization.” But this is not necessary! Unless, of course, you practice strict asceticism or live in a secluded monastery, ashram, or monastery.
Hand on heart, it is worth admitting that truly modest individuals, devoid of acquisitive tendencies, are extremely rare in the 21st century, especially in megacities. But greed, greed, acquisitiveness, hoarding are quite common character traits of modern people.
Greedy people will suffer from “Plyushkin syndrome” or plunge into shopaholism. The former can hardly part with even things that are completely unsuitable for use, while the latter love to spend money on unnecessary purchases. Sound familiar? We invite you to talk about what greed is and how this character trait can affect the quality of life of any of us.
Meaning of the word greedy
Examples of the use of the word greedy in literature.
Some of these buyers become so greedy that their extortions consume most of the manufacturer's profits, so that the question arises: is it profitable to continue doing business with them?
It would be very unreasonable to invest nobility, benevolence and other good qualities into such an unworthy shell, and nature provided him with a soul quite consistent with his appearance, that is, low, selfish and greedy.
Here a greedy reddish light shone in the eyes of the Duke of Brabant.
And where will we get as much as we need for the greedy wives of the viziers, pashas, and even for their numerous relatives?
Now he cast greedy glances across the Strait of Messina at the Carthaginian possessions in Sicily.
It was worth tearing them out of the greedy embrace of the crawlers in order to destroy them here, now.
There the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth continued to build its intrigues, and behind it the Habsburg Germans crowded in, greedily looking to the East.
The eyes of the guy with the knife blazed greedily, he licked his lips and looked at Victor memorably.
Claudia Karlstadt, the instrument of seduction with which the honorable Chaffee was destined for destruction, was a tall, slender blonde, still quite fresh, since she was barely twenty-six years old, and distinguished by that callousness and cruelty which are characteristic only of the most greedy and frivolous creatures. .
And all because the conquistadors, greedy for gold, criminally hiding behind the cross, managed to draw the curtain before anyone had time to properly understand what they found on the other side of the globe.
The negotiations were conducted in Valissari near Narva, and Kotoshikhin avidly observed the habits of the Swedish commissars: how Gustav Bjelke eats, how Count Bengt Horn drinks wine, and how beautifully they throw Brabant lace from their cuffs so as not to stain them when writing protocols.
She put all these treasures on sheaves of flax, which, if necessary, she would set on fire - let everything perish in the flames, so as not to fall to the greedy Octavian.
But a terrible moving slurry crawled from below, crawled, and there was no end to it - the exhausted, tormented and humiliated Earth itself was squeezing out billions of billions of black, shaking, greedy spiders from its insides.
What if Curley is wounded, lying in a dirty shack somewhere, if not already buried in a common grave, that is, stripped by greedy mortus and thrown into a dirty, hastily dug ditch?
Looking from above into the greedily sparkling pewter eyes and the diligently mincing paws, he suddenly remembered the silent dialogue with the stream.
Source: Maxim Moshkov library
Is greed a gift or a punishment?
The word “greed” has many interesting synonyms. You can find the archaic “love of money” or the more modern ones – “greed”, “stinginess”, “greed”, “acquisitiveness”.
From a psychological point of view, greed is an irrepressible desire to accumulate and increase material values, “seasoned” with the fear of losing what a person already possesses.
This character trait could be called completely neutral if it manifested itself as frugality, thrift, and the ability to save money. However, greed, unfortunately, knows no limits and can push a person obsessed with stinginess to act rashly. In pursuit of ever new profits or other benefits of our world, an individual is capable of committing dishonest acts and even illegal acts! And this is already serious.
Even if a person does not commit a crime, greed is a catalyst for such manifestations of character as anger, quarrelsomeness, timidity (we are talking about the fear of losing one’s property).
The theme of greed in Russian literature
An example of a greedy person is the character of the “little poem” by A.S. Pushkin's " The Miserly Knight ".
The old baron “languishes over gold,” like the fabulous Koshchei. The sound of coins is his only joy. Every day the miser goes down to the dungeon where his treasures are stored and talks to himself for a long time. Jewels are more valuable to him than his own son; he showers them with affectionate words, remembers where and when he got each item.
The old man is not going to share what he has acquired - on the contrary, he wants no one to get the gold. The miser is seized with real madness. A destructive passion leads to the spiritual and then physical death of the character.
Another literary greedy is Ganya Ivolgin from Dostoevsky's novel The Idiot .
A young ambitious official is ready to throw himself into the fire after a wad of money thrown there by Nastasya Filippovna. More than anything else, he dreams of getting out of poverty and humiliation, becoming rich and noble, in order to become an “extraordinary person.”
The path to extraordinaryness does not lie through wealth, but Ganya is far from understanding this. F.M. Dostoevsky sees in his hero a passionate thirst for quick external success, which, unfortunately, has not faded away, but has only intensified in the 21st century.
suffer from greed : Kabanikha from Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm”, Plyushkin from Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls”, the old father from Dostoevsky’s novel “The Brothers Karamazov”.
Are greed and greed synonymous?
How would you answer the question “What is greed?” You would most likely use the term "greedy".
In fact, these two words are synonyms, but their meanings are somewhat different. We most often use the word “greedy” when we talk about wealth and material values. But “greedy” has a broader meaning. Compare: greedy for knowledge, for attention, affection (love), but greedy for money (for money).
Linguists argue that the word “greedy” has a neutral connotation, while its synonym “greedy” has an openly negative connotation.
What's wrong with greed?
Many literary works written in ancient times ridicule greed as one of the worst vices. As a rule, greedy people are the main negative characters in them, who in the end are put to shame precisely because of excessive greed. This trait is also considered one of the main sins in the most widespread religions of the world. But where did such unanimous dislike for greedy people come from?
As noted above, greed is a survival mechanism that was formed among primitive people under the influence of evolution. But at the same time, completely opposite forms of behavior developed in our ancestors: generosity, mutual assistance, care for fellow tribesmen and joint work for the common good. For the sake of survival, people joined forces and shared the extracted resources. And even then, our ancestors understood perfectly well that an overly greedy and greedy individual puts the entire tribe at risk.
Greed makes a person do ugly things to accumulate wealth. He himself does not notice that by attaching increased value to material goods, he is destroyed on a spiritual level. This flaw is destructive and painful for a person, because it makes him worry about every expenditure of money, limiting himself to a good rest, beautiful clothes, delicious food and other human joys.
Greedy people: the reasons for this phenomenon
If we talk about this very briefly, then greed arises due to the substitution of life values. Modern man, being in the grip of mass culture, which is based on the theory of consumption, begins to seriously think that money and happiness are one and the same thing.
Greed can also manifest itself due to an overdeveloped ego. A stingy person asserts himself not through his own outstanding achievements or noble deeds, but through acquisitiveness and hoarding.
It’s not for nothing that Sigmund Freud argued that the causes of all our problems should be sought in childhood! Greed is no exception. Let's say that the child's parents were extremely busy with their own careers or personal lives. They did not have the time (energy, opportunity) to take care of the child and instead the child received expensive gifts as the equivalent of love. It is clear that this attitude will “work” in adult life! Such a person can measure any manifestations of feelings and emotions by material resources.
You will be interested to know how to attract luck and money.
Greed in modern culture and its causes.
The desire for wealth is especially evident in those cultures that derive from or adhere to the Western European traditions of “progress” and “growth” and are the legacy of, or adhere to, eras of scientific discovery and world exploration. The former made people believe that they could know everything, the latter expanded what they knew and opened the world to trade. Trade became a major factor in European life after the Black Death, a plague that killed three-quarters of Europe's population in the 14th century. This massive reduction in the workforce led to three results:
- End of the feudal system
The serfs, whose numbers are now low and therefore their value as labor now high, can demand wages for their labor.
- Excess of goods and food due to low number of consumers.
- A sudden increase in personal wealth as people inherited the property of all their deceased relatives.
These three factors led to a greater sense of individualism, a decrease in spiritual and intellectual interests in favor of material interests.
With new sought-after products such as spices, tea, and silk made available through global exploration, trade and the exploitation of markets became the goals of European societies and individuals within those societies. This continues to this day. The standard of living of members of societies that practice such materialism gives them a great advantage over those people and societies that do not. They can collect more resources, live longer, raise more children in better conditions who can pass on the genes of their parents and ancestors.
Greed is a mortal sin. Is it so?
As we know, in the Christian religion there are 7 main sins, called mortal sins. Greed in this “top” is in second place, after pride.
There is an opinion, including among spiritual thinkers, that the cause of greed is an unfulfilled need to feel safe. Suppose a person whom everyone behind his back calls Plyushkin or, even worse, Gobsek, simply does not feel confident in his material security. That is why he drags all sorts of rubbish from the trash heap into the house, skimps on spending money on basic things, and tries to earn money by hook or by crook.
Thus, it turns out that greed may be a sin, but a greedy person is more likely a victim of circumstances.
Examples of greed in foreign literature
As examples, we can recall the characters of two classic works of world literature: Plautus’s play “ Kubyshka ” and Moliere’s play “ The Miser ,” written based on its plot.
The old miser Harpagon does not want to share his wealth with his son and daughter and hides a box of jewelry in the garden. He decides to arrange a profitable marriage for his daughter; he also sees his son’s destiny in making money. With the help of clever servants, the children arrange their own future; the father has no choice but to agree to their not-so-profitable weddings in exchange for the right to get his treasures back.
Moliere laughs at the miser, who is so painfully experiencing separation from gold.
The theme of stinginess sounds differently in Balzac’s story “ Gobsek ”.
The Parisian moneylender Gobsek is not just stingy, he is greedy. For the sake of earning money, the old man gets involved in family squabbles, and great human tragedies happen before his eyes: treason, betrayal, death. But Gobsek is cold and calculating, like a spider. He weaves threads of intrigue to capture the unfortunate victim and get as much as possible from her.
For Balzac, the image of a moneylender is associated with the gloomy and sinister soul of his contemporary civilization, a symbol of an age ruled by money.
A greedy person: how to recognize him?
We figured out a little about what greed is and what are the reasons for the development of this property of nature. The next step is to conduct a “diagnosis” and find out who from your environment falls into the category of individuals obsessed with stinginess and acquisitiveness. Although, perhaps, you can recognize yourself by reading these points.
- A greedy person always saves on everything, and, first of all, on himself. New things are bought only when they are completely out of order. Treat yourself to something new or something nice? For a greedy person this is an unacceptable luxury.
- A cheapskate is not the easiest person to talk to. A greedy woman will always be dissatisfied with the income of her lover, while a man obsessed with greed will demand an account from his missus for every penny spent.
- Food is a fairly significant part of our budget, isn’t it? A stingy person always saves on food! He doesn’t buy what he really loves, chooses products that are about to expire, and “hunts” for discounts and promotional offers.
- Why pay if friends, relatives, colleagues are always nearby? This is roughly how a self-interested person argues. If there is an opportunity to save on services by turning to loved ones for help, such a person will always choose this option.
- Do you think greed will allow you to give generous gifts to loved ones and friends? Of course not! If a greedy type does something similar, he tries to reduce expenses to a minimum.
- The last item on our checklist is visiting. Greedy people do not like to receive guests, but they themselves come for a courtesy visit without warning. They know that when visiting, you can profit from something delicious!
What vices does greed create?
Greed – what kind of mental “illness” is this? And what other vices does it cause in humans? First of all, greed entails self-interest. This is an insatiable desire to benefit from everything. A person does not even disdain the troubles of others. There is no place in the soul for compassion or pity, there is only the desire to gain benefit. But, as you know, happiness is when you give, not when you receive. That is why self-interest has never brought true peace to anyone.
Another vice that accompanies greed is envy. It depletes and “eats” a person from the inside. Don't forget about greed. Reluctance to share repels a greedy person. In his quest to save all his savings, he remains lonely. It is these vices that are the reason that throughout the history of mankind, blood has been shed over gold and other riches.
How to deal with greed?
To fight something, you need to know its source. Greed is born from a person’s lack of confidence in himself and his importance. An illusion is created, as if without a fortune, this or that person will not have weight in society, without which it is impossible to achieve recognition.
In fact, the significance of a figure depends not on external factors, but on the personality as a whole. And here we are not talking about banal good nature. If it’s interesting to communicate with a person and spend time, then “rich scenery” is the last thing that will bother others. As soon as the uncertainty about your importance disappears, the need to create expensive surroundings for yourself will disappear.
To do this, it is enough to focus on spiritual resources: develop versatility, read interesting literature, look for new interests and hobbies, find zest in even the simplest little things - in a word, become interesting to yourself without financial resources.
The main thing to remember is that money is an auxiliary attribute to achieving intangible goals. In addition, the main weapon against greed is generosity, which includes not only finances, but also a person’s time and energy. The ability to share is the greatest wealth of the human soul, and this is one of the important points in the thinking of rich people.
conclusions
An unhealthy attitude towards money in the form of stinginess, excessive prudence and greed is a psychological illness widespread throughout the world.
This is the same addiction, only from money. Before condemning such people, you should remember that this is not a quality of the soul, but an acquired problem that can be overcome if desired. If treatment for this addiction is not started in time, advanced cases will lead to disastrous results.
First of all, the health and nervous system will be greatly affected, irreversible processes will begin to activate, as a result of which a person will no longer be able to return to a healthy state of mind and body.
By working on your weaknesses, you can get rid of any shortcomings. And knowing your hidden talents, you can enhance their self-realization. Do you want to learn how to build your natal chart to see your hidden potential and purpose, know your weak and strong points and upgrade them to avoid many problems? Watch our free master class, where we will tell you how to create your own individual horoscope and learn how to fulfill your desires using a special technique.
Can greed be good?
There is a theory that greed is programmed into our genes because it has evolved to promote survival and reproduction.
- Without some degree of greed, people and communities are more likely to run out of resources and the means and motivation to innovate and achieve.
- Although greed is blind and brute force, it leads to better economic and social results. Altruism receives passing praise, but what our society actually rewards is greed, which provides the material wealth and economic growth we have come to rely on. Our society is fueled by greed. Without it, we would slide into poverty and anarchy. Greed is at the core of all successful modern and historical societies, and political systems designed to contain or eliminate it have ended in complete failure.
Symptoms of acquisitiveness
There is perhaps no more painful vice than greed. Synonyms for this word - “acquisitiveness”, “gluttony” and “greed”, completely complement the current picture. Sometimes the pettiness of such people reaches the extreme. A greedy person always carefully calculates the cost of even the most insignificant purchase. He will not leave the cash register without counting all the change. And if there is not enough money there, he will create a scandal and take it away at any cost.
Greedy people talk about money all the time. They complain about their shortage. They envy and spoil those who earn more than them. Moreover, such a person may well occupy a good position and be wealthy. Greedy people buy the cheapest clothes, food, they never spend on entertainment. Even if they have a hobby, it is always associated with the idea of saving money. For example, a person prone to money-grubbing can buy a dacha, so he can provide himself with food and not spend money, or he sews clothes, although at the same time altering old trousers and sweaters.
Greedy people will not miss the opportunity to get money illegally; they always take bribes and do not disdain blackmail and theft. Such a person will constantly demand to borrow money from his relatives, but he will not give it back. This constantly provokes scandals. At the same time, he can steal from a relative or friend who lives worse than himself. Acquisitiveness can be taken to extremes. Greedy people will not disdain to search garbage barrels, they hope to find there something that will allow them to save money, for example, old furniture, clothes or metal that can be sold for money.
How to overcome greed?
Is it possible to overcome greed? The meaning of this vice makes it clear that a person has false values and guidelines. Money is everything to him! But in reality, people begin their pursuit of material values when they cannot find happiness. Therefore, in order to free yourself from acquisitiveness, you need to understand that true wealth is spiritual. Happiness is within us, and a person can only know it by sharing. It does not depend on the amount of money in the account and gold on the neck, ears and fingers. Generosity has always been a counterbalance to greed. Only by giving something can you make your life easier.
To get rid of money-grubbing, you need to stop collecting bills and coins. Money should be spent on things that truly bring you pleasure. Only by finding your purpose in life can you experience peace. In order to feel truly happy, you don’t need money at all.
