We all want more than we “need”

It’s hard to define a universal metric for what a human being “needs.” Thousands of years ago, needs were likely simpler — food, shelter and not dying randomly were enough. Over time, that list has grown.

Today, most people reading this have far more than what early humans would have deemed necessary. You likely have food, shelter, and the comforts of modern life. If you’re in a Western country, you probably have access to healthcare, electricity, clean water, education, and entertainment.

So, where do we draw the line for what a person “needs”? And even if we could draw it, how would we enforce it?

Enforcing such a line would mean deciding that people can only own or consume: X number of clothes, Y amount of food, Z litres of fuel for their generators. It raises enormous practical and ethical problems. How do you codify such limits into laws without violating human rights? And how do you account for the vast differences among people — their circumstances, tastes, desires, ambitions, work ethics, and even their actual needs?

It’s clear that we all want more than we “need.” But the problems arise when people are forced to believe — or genuinely perceive — that the only way to get what they want is by taking from others. In some cases, this perception is true: resources may actually be limited, and competition becomes unavoidable. Fear and scarcity drive conflict.

I don’t have statistics to prove this, but I feel strongly that most people don’t actively want to take from others. Given the choice, they would prefer to simply obtain what they want for themselves and their loved ones — without harming or depriving anyone else. The problem is that this choice isn’t always accessible or presented.

However, I don’t believe the world is inherently zero — sum. There is ample proof that you can create more from what exists. You can stumble upon fruit in the wild— or you can harvest seeds and plant crops to yield far more.

I don’t aim to champion greed and excess, but wanting more isn’t something we should be ashamed of. Balance matters, of course, but I truly believe that if everyone had access to what they considered “enough” — a home, a family, healthcare, travel, and the comforts of the modal life in a wealthy country — most people would choose it. Not to take from others, but simply to have it for themselves.

We should aspire to a world where people don’t have to compete to survive or to fulfil their dreams. A world where wanting more isn’t seen as greed, but as a motivation to create abundance for ourselves and those we care about. And I believe we can get there — not by taking, but by building.