...both wealth and concord decline as possessions become pursued and honored. And virtue perishes with them as well.

The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.

Their glory in earthly power had brought them to decadent ruin, as it brought down all empires who gloried in gold or conquest or those other ambitions which can never be satisfied but must forever be fed.

When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself.

To be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the Antidote.

Proud and insolent youth, prepare to meet thy doom.

The irony of looking wealthy is that it is an enemy to real wealth: It destroys freedom, it destroys health, and it destroys relationships.

Authority will lead you into ruin.

The man who dies rich, dies disgraced.

If you think of paying court to those in power, your eternal ruin is assured.

I see good people dying of cold and hunger.’ Well, don’t you see wicked people dying of luxury, pride and excess?

Pride and reserve are not the only things in life; perhaps they are not even the best things. But if they happen to be your particular virtues you will go all to pieces if you let them go.

Liberty produces wealth, and wealth destroys liberty.

Fame and wealth without wisdom are unsafe possessions.