If of their pleasures and desires no end be found;
God to their cares and fears will set no bound.
What would content you? Who can tell?
Ye fear so much to lose what you have got
As if ye liked it well.
Ye strive for more, as if ye liked it not.

He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss.

Those, who have wealth, must be watchful and wary;
Power, alas! nought but misery brings!

He who would love much has also much to suffer.

Some have too much, yet still do crave; I little have, and seek no more: They are but poor, though much they have, And I am rich with little store: They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;
They lack, I have; they pine, I live.

The more you covet something, the more certain it is that you’ll lose it, and the more devastating the loss will be when it happens—which it will. (p. 216).

A dangerous parsimony 'tis
To store up treasure of regrets.

A man's increase in worldly wealth doth ofttimes loss betide,
And all his pains, save Virtue's gains, but swell the debit side.

What matters isn't what a person has or doesn't have; it is what he or she is afraid of losing.

For most people, the fear of loss is much greater than the desire for gain.

Great anguish lies in wait for those who long too greatly.

If you lose money you lose much,
If you lose friends you lose more,
If you lose faith you lose all.

The fear is for what is still to be lost.

The more men have to lose, the less willing are they to venture. The rich are in general slaves to fear, and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a Spaniel.