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Money can buy almost anything. It can buy houses, yachts, and cars. It can pay for lavish parties that attract countless guests you might think are your "friends." But social history has shown us, unequivocally, that the one thing that money cannot buy is happiness. (Which is pretty good news for those of us who don't have a lot money.)

That is not to say that the acquisition of wealth does not make some people happy. For some, they value material gain over all other things. But I submit that these individuals are in the vast majority. If you told Donald Trump he must choose between his billion dollar fortune or his children, he'll chose his children. Even the most seemingly-cutthroat businessmen know where to place their priorities.

The issue becomes one of value. What do you value as an individual? What is the single most important thing in your life? If a world-wide poll was taken that asked this question, "family" or "friends" would likely appear at the top of the list. Neither of these can be bought. For better or worse, faith/religion might also be near the top. Again, religious piety cannot be bought and paid for (though some greedy televangelists would have you believe otherwise).

If an individual truly values money over all other things, there is not necessarily anything wrong with that. But again, money probably won't bring him or her happiness. The reason being: how much is enough money? When can you say, "I've done it. I've accrued all the money I'd hoped to. I can finally be happy." This will never happen. Pursuit of vast wealth and greed often go hand-in-hand, and characters like Charles Dickens's Ebenezer Scrooge showed us that wealth and greed do not lead to happiness. In fact, they can lead you down an entirely different, lonelier path.

There is no doubt that the rich possess an inherent advantage over the middle-class and poor. Wealth can provide opportunities to some which are not available to those without the means. For example, the son of a wealthy family has the choice to go to college if he chooses. Whereas, a bright young kid from a poor family might have be able to afford college, or needs to stay home and earn money to help support his family. That bright kid might really want to go learn and expand his or her mind, but lack of money does not allow him the opportunity.

However, the simple fact is that the wealthy, college-bound kid must truly learn the value of things that can't be bought. Otherwise, one day he might find himself in a giant, cold mansion, all alone and wondering where his friends and family have gone. Dickens was trying to tell us something in "A Christmas Carol." Money can buy objects, but it certainly can't buy happiness.

Learn more about this author, Sean Curtis.
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