62 The True Riches.

to labour, not so much to augment his
wealth, as to diminish his desire of having ;
because he that appointeth no bounds to his
desires is always poor and needy.”

Epictetus says: ‘“ A horse is not said to be
better because he hath eaten more than
another, or because he hath a gilt harness, -
but because he is stronger, swifter, and better
made, for every beast is accounted according
to his virtue. And shall a man be esteemed
according to his riches, ancestors, or beauty?
If a man think that his old age shall be
borne easily by the means of riches, he
deceiveth himself.”

Socrates says—

“Tt is a miscrable saying to affirm
That a rich man is happy ; yea, it belongeth
To children and fools to say so, making them
unhappy
That believe and approve it.
As a man cannot use a horse without a bridle, so
He cannot use riches without reason.”

How often do men forget that wealth
brings with it responsibilities, and seem to
think that selfish indulgence is the sole use
for which it is granted to them? A landed