Who hath not heard the rich complain
Of surfeits, and corporeal pain?
He barr'd from every use read more

Who hath not heard the rich complain
Of surfeits, and corporeal pain?
He barr'd from every use of wealth,
Envies the ploughman's strength and health.

All gold and silver rather turn to dirt,
An 'tis no better reckoned but of these
Who read more

All gold and silver rather turn to dirt,
An 'tis no better reckoned but of these
Who worship dirty gods.

Base wealth preferring to eternal praise.

Base wealth preferring to eternal praise.

The ideal social state is not that in which each gets an equal
amount of wealth, but in which read more

The ideal social state is not that in which each gets an equal
amount of wealth, but in which each gets in proportion to his
contribution to the general stock.

It is easy at any moment to resign the possession of a great
fortune; to acquire it is difficult read more

It is easy at any moment to resign the possession of a great
fortune; to acquire it is difficult and arduous.
[Lat., Facile est momento quo quis velit, cedere possessione
magnae fortunae; facere et parare eam, difficile atque arduum
est.]

He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.

He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.

O, what a world of vile ill-favored faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year.

O, what a world of vile ill-favored faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year.

And to hie him home, at evening's close,
To sweet repast, and calm repose.
. . . read more

And to hie him home, at evening's close,
To sweet repast, and calm repose.
. . . .
From toil we wins his spirits light,
From busy day the peaceful night;
Rich, from the very want of wealth,
In heaven's best treasures, peace and health.

But I have learned a thing or two; I know as sure as fate,
When we lock up our read more

But I have learned a thing or two; I know as sure as fate,
When we lock up our lives for wealth, the gold key comes too
late.