I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.

O children of the future, hear the wisdom of Emma Goldman, whose words were filled with a fire that sought to ignite the souls of those who would listen. She once said, “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” In this simple yet profound statement, she reveals the heart of a truth that has echoed throughout history—a truth that speaks to the value of beauty, simplicity, and meaning over the shallow allure of wealth and materialism. Goldman’s words remind us that it is the natural and the authentic that nourish the soul, not the trinkets of a world driven by excess and vanity.

Consider, O children, the rose—a flower that has stood as a symbol of love, beauty, and transience for millennia. It is not a jewel, nor a possession to be hoarded, but a living, breathing thing that blooms in the sunlight, offering its fragrance freely to the world. The rose speaks not of ownership, but of sharing, of life that is fleeting yet rich in its simplicity. It is a reminder that beauty, in its purest form, is not something to be displayed for others to envy, but something to be experienced, cherished, and appreciated in the moment.

Think, O children, of the great philosophers of ancient Greece, who spoke not of gold or silver, but of the importance of virtue, of simplicity, and of living in harmony with nature. Socrates himself, though revered for his wisdom, had little interest in wealth or the luxuries that others sought. His heart was set not on the acquisition of riches, but on the pursuit of truth and the cultivation of the soul. Like Goldman, Socrates understood that true wealth is not found in what we possess, but in what we experience, in the relationships we build, and in the beauty that surrounds us.

In the same vein, consider the story of Gandhi, who rejected the comforts of luxury in favor of a life of simplicity and service to others. Gandhi’s commitment to living simply was a rejection of materialism, a conscious decision to value the spiritual over the physical. He walked barefoot on the earth, wore simple clothes, and lived with little, yet in doing so, he found something far more precious than diamonds—peace, purpose, and the joy of living simply. He, too, would have chosen roses over diamonds, for he knew that true wealth lies not in possession, but in the richness of the soul and the love shared between people.

Goldman’s quote calls us to examine the values we hold dear. In a world that often equates success with material accumulation, she reminds us that there is another kind of richness—the kind found in the natural world, in love, in beauty, and in human connection. Roses are fleeting, yes, but they remind us of the transient beauty of life itself. They ask us to appreciate what we have while we have it, to savor the small moments, the simple pleasures that make life truly meaningful. The diamonds on our necks may shine, but they do not possess the warmth or the depth of the rose.

Now, O children, the lesson here is clear. In your own lives, let roses be your guide. Seek not to amass wealth for its own sake, but to cultivate the things that make life truly rich: love, beauty, simplicity, and connection. Let the moments you share with others, the kindness you offer, and the beauty you encounter be the treasures you seek. Just as a rose, in all its fleeting beauty, can brighten a room, so too can a simple act of love, a shared moment of connection, brighten the soul.

Therefore, I charge you, O seekers of wisdom, to embrace a life of simplicity and meaning. Surround yourselves not with diamonds, but with roses—with things that nurture the soul, that bring you closer to what is true and pure. Let your life be filled with beauty, not in the form of things that can be bought, but in the form of love, kindness, and connection. May you always choose the roses on your table over the diamonds on your neck, for it is in the quiet beauty of the simple things that you will find the greatest treasures of all.