Gold and silver are constituted, by the nature of things, money, and universal money, independent of all convention, and of all laws.

"I can give you my word of honor." "And pray what may be the value of that?" inquired the amused Regent. "Monsieur, it is worth its weight in gold."

If the government, for example, should decree that an ox should be given for a sheep, and a sheep for a hat or a pair of stockings, its folly would be laughed at, its unjust interference would excite our indignation, and its decrees would be despised and disobeyed. The same would be the case with all other similar commodities; and what is there then in the nature of gold and silver which should release them from this general law,…

The object of presenting medals, stars, and ribbons is to give pride and pleasure to those who have deserved them. At the same time a distinction is something which everybody does not possess. If all have it it is of less value ... A medal glitters, but it also casts a shadow.

For these vain honours, this false gold, give price
(Unless he have it in himself) to none,
Better deserve them, and to go without;
Than have them undeserved, without doubt.

In fact the world is all agreed and calls commodity honour; so that men need only proclaim that they are honourable with- out being so to mock at the world.

[T]hey possess most gold and silver, by which war, like everything else, flourishes.

Sellswords put gold before honor.

Silver is sometimes more valuable than gold, that is, in large quantities.

gold, silver, and diamonds, are things that fancy or agreement hath put the value on, more than real use,

Silver and gold are not the only coin; virtue too passes current all over the world.

Gold is precious because it resembles the sun. Silver has the light of the moon.

It has therefore been justly observed that however honestly the coin of a country may conform to its standard, money made of gold and silver is still liable to fluctuations in value, not only to accidental, and temporary, but to permanent and natural variations, in the same manner as other commodities.

This is truly the age of gold,
since only gold wins and gold reigns.