One sentence from John D. Rockefeller should be a warning to all nowadays

There is an old anecdote about the oil giant John D. Rockefeller, who in his lifetime amassed a fortune of around 900 million dollars, equivalent to 208 billion dollars.

His Standard Oil Company dominated the market to such an extent that in 1911, the US government decided to break up the company and it became modern-day giants like Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips.

Yet Rockefeller’s response was remarkably modest when a journalist asked how much was enough. His answer was simply: “Just a little bit more” .

On the surface, the words may seem like an expression of greed, but perhaps they were more a realization that the quest for more never ends. Because once you start measuring your life in results, the next goal always becomes more important than what you’ve already achieved.

A reminder of what really counts

According to Focus.de, Rockefeller’s answer may also have been meant ironically. The question of when you have enough is based on an erroneous idea, that satisfaction can be measured in dollars and cents. Rockefeller certainly knew that no amount of money can guarantee lasting happiness.

Another example supports this. J. Paul Getty, who was also among the world’s richest, was once asked what he envied others. He replied:

– I envy those who are younger and happier than I am. I wish I had a better personality and the ability to entertain people. I’ve always feared that I’m a little boring.

However, Rockefeller made a virtue of using his wealth to benefit others. He donated huge amounts to education, medical research and culture. He sought not just to own more, but to create something that could benefit the community.

The balance between reason and desire

The Swedish word Lagom describes exactly what Rockefeller’s words warned against. Not too much, not too little, but just right. It’s about finding the balance where you can look back and understand that you’ve actually come far enough.

We often forget to stop and look at what we already have. If we constantly strive for “just a little bit more”, we end up in a never-ending race without a goal.

Finding your own Lagom doesn’t require wealth. It requires the ability to recognize the point at which more no longer makes us happier, but simply more restless, because those who always want more never get enough.