Book A
21
Wealth is not one of the good things; great expenditure is one of the bad; moderation (σωφροσύνη)is one of the good things. And moderation invites to frugality and the acquisition of good things: but wealth invites to great expenditure and draws us away from moderation. It is difficult then for a rich man to be moderate, or for a moderate man to be rich.How hardly shall they that have riches enter the kingdom of God. Mark x. 23 (Mrs. Carter). This expression in Mark sets forth the danger of riches, a fact which all men know who use their observation. In the next verse the truth is expressed in this form, How hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. The Stoics viewed wealth as among the things which are indifferent, neither good nor bad.
22
As if you were begotten or born in a ship, you would not be eager to be the master of it (κυβερνήτης), so—.The other member of the comparison has been omitted by some accident in the MSS. Wolf in his Latin version supplied by conjecture the omission in this manner: ita neque in terris divitiae tibi expe tendae sunt. Schweig. For neither there (in the ship) will the ship naturally be connected with you, nor wealth in the other case; but reason is every where naturally connected with you. As then reason is a thing which naturally belongs to you and is born in you, consider this also as specially your own and take care of it.
