None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.

The saying frames gratitude as a form of wealth that is independent of external circumstances. Someone may possess money or status yet be “impoverished” in spirit if they cannot recognize gifts, kindness, or ordinary goods in life. By calling gratitude a “currency” we can “mint,” the quote emphasizes agency: unlike financial capital, gratitude can be generated internally through attention and choice. The final clause—spending it “without fear of bankruptcy”—suggests gratitude is non-rivalrous: expressing thanks does not diminish one’s supply, and may even multiply social and emotional returns by strengthening relationships and resilience.