Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.

Quotes Included Above Prompt:

Many people say that money is not the most important thing in life and that being overly concerned about money leads only to unhappiness. Other point out, however, that money and wealth have always been of dramatic significant in society. They argue that there is really nothing more important to one’s overall quality of life than money.

Assignment:

Is money the most significant factor ... (part 1 of prompt)

in determining a person’s quality of life? (part 2 of prompt) Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Brainstorm:

In order to answer in the affirmative, it may be helpful to think of all that money can buy. Consider examples when purchasing a trip, experience, or item made you significantly happier. Also consider the happiness of the richest people on earth ― do they seem happy?

To answer negatively, consider all of the things that money cannot buy: genuine, satisfying relationships, emotional satisfaction, career satisfaction. Consider examples of dictators and wealthy men throughout history who lived miserable lives ― despite wealth and power ― because money could not purchase them the happiness they so desperately craved.