Lots of misinterpretations of this tweet. It does not imply that these two things are opposites, nor that they're independent. It simply means that a rich cultural life enhances your lifestyle (and, in a strong sense, "makes your life worth living") more than material luxury.
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While it is necessary to be financially comfortable to have a rich cultural life (in particular because you need free time), it's often much cheaper than funding the sort of lifestyle that society would normally associate with "being rich".
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On a bigger scale, I'd argue that a nation that provides top-quality education and access to a rich cultural life to its citizens is providing a better standard of living than one that has a higher GDP per capita but that is largely a cultural wasteland
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Of course, education and a rich cultural life (as well as free time to enjoy it) requires some level of material wealth. But my subjective impression both at the individual and national levels is that those with the highest living standards by my metrics are often not the richest
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Fundamentally, you can't buy goods & services as a replacement for meaning and wonder.
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"A house full of books" sounds like heaven to me.
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Well, culture is an investment that pays off in marble, so assuming there are two goods in an economy, books and marble there's a sweet spot between consumption and investment.
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The purpose of culture is not to get rich. It's the reverse: the only satisfying use of money is to enjoy culture (in all its forms)
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"When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness." Jules Renard
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Wealth is a weird thing. Here in India marble floors come with the house, wood is what we die for. This is probably a microcscopic example of why it's best to give up on wealth as a drive.pic.twitter.com/dIn9ljwnlT
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Also, also our houses are bigger than yours, and most middle class households have help and maids.
It's just crazy to think of how many middle-Indians have a living standard equal to a Valley Millionaire albeit without the expensive cars, electronics and materials.
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