Why Money Can’t Buy Happiness: The Maharal’s Wisdom on True Fulfillment

It often seems that our lack of satisfaction stems from not having achieved enough materially. As the sages said, “One who has a hundred desires two hundred.” The Maharal of Prague explains that the real reason is that the soul is spiritual and can therefore never be satisfied with material things.

Money (kesef) is called by that name, from the Hebrew root for longing (nichsaf). A person always yearns for more. Gold (zahav) is named from the words zeh hav — “give me this”, because the desire never ends.

The Fisherman and Mr. Ford

One day, Mr. Ford approached a fisherman lying on the shore.
“Why are you resting instead of working?” Ford asked.
The fisherman replied: “Why should I work?”
“To earn money!” said Ford.
“And what will I do with the money?”
“With enough, you can buy a boat, then nets, then catch more fish.”
“And then what?”
“You can build a fleet, an international company, and finally relax.”
The fisherman smiled: “But that’s exactly what I’m doing now.”

The story highlights the illusion that more wealth equals more peace. In truth, the rest we crave is not at the end of endless work, but it is available even now, if we live with perspective.

Why Don’t We Search for Life’s Meaning?

We would never board a bus without knowing its destination, and yet many go through life without asking: Where am I heading? What is my purpose?

When challenged, some argue: “Why assume spiritual life is superior to material life?” When a person steps back with an objective view, freed from immediate cravings, it becomes clear that spiritual pursuits carry far more weight than fleeting pleasures.

Material Pleasures vs. Spiritual Deeds

• Food before a meal: it seems like the ultimate pleasure.

• Food after a meal: its value drops instantly.

• Helping a stranger: before, it feels inconvenient.

• Helping a stranger after: it leaves you uplifted, filled with meaning.

Material acts sparkle before they happen but fade after. Spiritual acts feel small at first, but their greatness grows once done.

The Illusion of Fulfillment

Human beings imagine that doubling or tripling wealth will finally satisfy them. However even after achieving it, they still feel empty. That is why the sages taught: “A person dies with only half his desires fulfilled.”

A striking example illustrates this: A man once shared on a bus that he received a letter from the tax authority, promising a full exemption in five years when he turned seventy. His face lit up with joy. The irony was piercing: an elderly man, unsure if he would live another day, placed his greatest hope in a tax exemption still years away.

The Balanced Path

The Maharal stresses that one must live with dignity, provide for family, and avoid dependence on others. However, money must remain a means, never the goal.

When money becomes a tool for serving God, giving, and spiritual growth, life gains inner peace, joy, and true fulfillment. The person is content with their portion, not because they own everything, but because they live in alignment with their soul.