Περὶ φιλοπλουτίας

Sections

1 – 1 2 – 2 3 – 3 3 – 3 4 – 4 4 – 5 5 – 5 5 – 5 5 – 6 6 – 6 7 – 7 7 – 7 7 – 7 8 – 8 8 – 8 9 – 9 10 – 10

5 But it is otherwise in the love of wealth, which, like a hard and severe mistress, compels us to get what it forbids us to enjoy, and excites an appetite but denies the pleasure of its gratification. Stratonicus wittily abused the Rhodians for their profuseness, when he said that they builded their houses as if they were immortal, but provided for their tables as if they were to live but a little while. So covetous men seem to be profuse by what they possess, when they are sordid wretches if you consider what they use and enjoy; for they endure labor, but taste no pleasure.