Man’s thirst for wealth has long been a subject of reflection, yet its depth remains difficult to comprehend. Across cultures and centuries, thinkers, moral teachers and spiritual traditions have warned that unchecked desire for material gain corrodes both the individual and the collective good. Needs are natural and justified, but greed is something else entirely. It is a vice that disguises itself as ambition and progress, slowly hollowing the moral fabric of societies.
Nagaland is not untouched by this universal affliction. Much of the corruption that is so often discussed in public forums, community meetings and private conversations can be traced back to greed. It is tempting to blame systems, institutions or political structures alone, but the truth is simpler and more uncomfortable. When individuals begin to prioritize personal accumulation over community welfare, corruption finds fertile ground. Morality weakens, spirituality fades, and greed quietly becomes fashionable. It becomes normalized in everyday dealings, shaping decisions and influencing social behavior in ways we seldom acknowledge.
Arthur Schopenhauer captured the paradox of wealth with striking clarity when he said, “Wealth is like sea water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become.” This observation holds true even in our rapidly changing society. The pursuit of wealth rarely ends at satisfaction. Instead, it often creates newer desires, higher expectations and deeper insecurity. The cycle continues until one becomes enslaved to the very thing one believed would provide security and comfort.
One of humankind’s greatest weaknesses is our failure to take heed of uncomfortable truths. History is full of warnings, yet only a few listen. The rest spend their lives in pursuit of accumulation that ultimately offers no lasting fulfillment. Life is temporal. The possessions that seem so important today lose meaning in the inevitability of time. What remains is the legacy one leaves behind, the generosity one extended and the lives one touched.
Naga society is shaped by close community ties and shared traditions. Our cultural values emphasize solidarity, compassion and collective progress. Yet these values are strained when greed takes center stage. It is worth remembering that societies thrive not on personal hoarding but on responsible sharing and ethical stewardship of resources.
As we reflect on the challenges facing our society today, the message is not a call to reject prosperity or ambition. It is a reminder to pursue them with integrity. Wealth can build communities when guided by conscience, and it can destroy them when shaped by greed. The choice, ultimately, is ours.
