Happiness or Money – The Debate That Defines Our Lives

One of my friends said, "Money is more important than happiness." I was shocked! It made me wonder—was he really right? He wasn’t the only one; I’ve heard the same from many people. But is money truly the most important thing? Why do people think that? Is it just because money can buy almost anything? And can money really buy everything?

Thousands of questions started swirling in my mind. I wanted to find out—what matters more: money or happiness?

Honestly, I still don’t know where or how to find the answer to this question. In the last 10 to 15 days, I’ve talked to so many people—probably a hundred or more—just trying to understand it better. Since my last post, this question has been stuck in my head.
I didn’t want to give an answer that came from just my own thinking or from some AI tool. I really wanted something honest—something real.
And after hearing so many different opinions, I finally feel like I’ve found an answer that actually makes sense to me. I want to share it with you all, in the simplest way possible.

So, it all started with a question that just wouldn’t leave my mind. A friend of mine had asked it some time back, and since then, it’s been stuck in my head. Maybe you’ve heard something like it from someone close to you—or maybe it even crossed your own mind once or twice. After thinking about it over and over again, I finally said to myself, “Let’s go out and try to figure this out.”

That was the first day I actually stepped out to search for the answer. I was on a train, and right across from me sat an elderly man, maybe around 50 or 60 years old. I looked at him and thought, “He’s probably seen so much in life—maybe 30 to 40 years of experiences, challenges, and stories. He must’ve met so many people, gone through so much. Maybe he knows something I don’t.”

So I plucked up the courage to speak to him. I struck up a conversation by asking him where he was from and where he was going. After a few minutes, I finally asked him the question that had been on my mind: Grandpa, do you believe that happiness is more important than money? Is happiness truly something that money can purchase? "Times have changed, son," he said with a smile. Happiness no longer has the same significance as it did in the past. The days of prioritizing happiness over financial gain are long gone. Nowadays, people place a higher value on money than anything else. Most people think that everything, including happiness, can be purchased with money. Therefore, money has taken precedence over genuine happiness in today's society. Although it's a depressing fact, it's the way things are.

That was the first real answer I received—and it made me think deeply. The grandfather was right. The world has changed. Today, people chase money, even if happiness is standing quietly behind them. Surprisingly, around 40 to 50% of the people I spoke with gave me the same response:

“Money is more important than happiness in today’s world.”

But not everyone agreed. Some people shared unique and different perspectives, and honestly, I felt like they were right too! That left me confused and thoughtful—
Should we blame the changing times for our priorities? Or is it just our mindset that has shifted toward money? After listening, reflecting, and filtering through all the answers and opinions, I created my own understanding of what truly matters in life. Maybe this post is a little late,
but it comes with real thoughts, real conversations, and lessons learned.

Happiness or Money – The Debate That Defines Our Lives

These thoughts aren’t just mine — they are the words of the real people I spoke to during this journey of questions and answers. Some were rich, some were poor, and others belonged to the middle class. The opinions I’m sharing with you here come from a wide range of people — each with different experiences, struggles, and values. I’m just passing on what I heard, in a way that helps you connect with their voices and understand their point of view.

“I Need Food, Not Money” — A Heartbreaking Reality That Changed My Perspective

When I asked her, “What is more important — money or happiness?”, she looked at me and softly said,
“I need food, not money.”

She was a woman with two children. Her husband had passed away just a year ago.
She continued, “I haven’t eaten in the past two days... and neither have my kids.”

Hearing this broke my heart. I stopped everything I was doing and went to get food for her and her children.

She didn’t give me a direct answer — she showed me the reality.
That moment taught me something very real:
Money becomes important only when you need it.

If you haven't eaten for two or three days, you won’t ask for millions of rupees — you’ll beg for food.
Let me give you another example:

Imagine you haven’t gone to the bathroom in over 10 hours. I offer you ₹1 crore if you just wait a few more hours. At first, you’ll think, “Wow, that’s a lot of money — I can do this.”
But as time passes — 1 hour, then 3 hours — you’ll eventually give up that money and run to relieve yourself.
Because at that moment, you need comfort, not cash.

"I Have a Lot of Money, But No Child" — The Truth Money Can’t Buy

“I have a lot of money, but I don’t have a child,”
he said, eyes full of pain.
“I feel angry sometimes… I have all the money in the world, but I can’t buy my own child.”

This was the answer I received from a rich man when I asked him:
“What is more important — money or happiness?”

He said something that really made me think:
“Yes, money can buy almost everything — but not happiness. Not life. Not love. Not peace. You can’t buy nature, sleep, or true emotions with money. You can only buy what humans have made — not what God has created.”

And he was absolutely right.

Some people say, “You can buy sleep — just take a pill.”
But no — not the deep, peaceful sleep you had as a child.
From money, you can buy a water tank, but not water itself.
You can buy a car, but not life.
You can buy fans and air conditioners, but not fresh air.

There are thousands of things money can’t buy — the most valuable ones often come from nature and love, not your wallet.

So yes, money is powerful. But it has limits.
And the most priceless things in life are often the ones that money will never touch.

The young boy " Who lost his mother"

"For me, my mother was the most important person in my life — and I know no amount of money can ever bring her back," said a young boy.

She passed away two years ago. Yes, money is powerful and important — life feels impossible without it sometimes. But saying money is everything? That’s not the right answer. Ask someone who’s lost a loved one, and they’ll tell you — even ₹1,000 crore can’t bring back the person they miss the most.

If I had that kind of money, sure, I could live a comfortable life. But without my mother, it’s never truly complete. Still, I move forward.

In my opinion, money is something — not everything. It helps you survive, but it can’t replace love, people, or memories. Money plays a part in living, but it isn’t the heart of life.

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