More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth.

More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth.

Gold is a vain and foolish fancy.
[Fr., L'or est une chimere.]

Gold is a vain and foolish fancy.
[Fr., L'or est une chimere.]

Gold does not rust on the ground, and rocks don't get soaked in the rain.

Gold does not rust on the ground, and rocks don't get soaked in the rain.

I see, the jewel best enamelled
Will lose his beauty; yet the gold bides still
That others read more

I see, the jewel best enamelled
Will lose his beauty; yet the gold bides still
That others touch, and often touching will
Wear gold; and no man that hath a name,
By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.

A mask of gold hides all deformities.

A mask of gold hides all deformities.

For gold in phisik is a cordial;
Therefore he lovede gold in special.

For gold in phisik is a cordial;
Therefore he lovede gold in special.

One secures the gold of the spirit when he finds himself.

One secures the gold of the spirit when he finds himself.

How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!
For this the foolish overcareful fathers
read more

How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!
For this the foolish overcareful fathers
Have broke their sleep with thoughts, their brains with care.
Their bones with industry.
For this they have engrossed and piled up
The cankered heaps of strange-achieved gold;
For this they have been thoughtful to invest
Their sons with arts and martial exercises.

Commerce has set the mark of selfishness,
The signet of its all-enslaving power
Upon a shining ore, read more

Commerce has set the mark of selfishness,
The signet of its all-enslaving power
Upon a shining ore, and called it gold;
Before whose image bow the vulgar great,
The vainly rich, the miserable proud,
The mob of peasants, nobles, priests, and kings,
And with blind feelings reverence the power
That grinds them to the dust of misery.
But in the temple of their hireling hearts
Gold is a living god, and rules in scorn
All earthly things but virtue.