(_From the "Antigone" of Sophocles_) (Greek tragic poet, B.C. 440) No such ill device Ever appeared, as money to mankind: This is it that sacks cities, this routs out Men from their homes, and trains and turns astray The minds of honest mortals, setting them Upon base actions; this revealed to men Habits of all misdoing, and cognizance Of every work of wickedness. (_From the Book of Good Counsels_) (Sanscrit, B.C. 300) Wealth is friends, home, father, brother, title to respect, and fame; Yea, and wealth is held for wisdom--that it should be so is shame. (_From the "Medea" of Euripides_) (Greek tragic poet, B.C. 431) Speak not so hastily: the gods themselves By gifts are swayed, as fame relates; and gold Hath a far greater influence o'er the souls Of mortals than the most persuasive words. (_From "The Convivio" of Dante Alighieri_) (Italian epic poet, 1265-1321) I affirm that gain is precisely that which comes oftener to the bad than to the good; for illegitimate gains never come to the good at all, because they reject them. And lawful gains rarely come to the good, because, since much anxious care is needful thereto, and the anxious care of the good man is directed to weightier matters, rarely does the good man give sufficient attention thereto. Wherefore it is clear that in every way the advent of these riches is iniquitous.... Let us give heed to the life of them who chase riches, and see in what security they live when they have gathered of them, how content they are, how reposeful! And what else, day by day, imperils and slays cities, countries and single persons so much as the new amassing of wealth by anyone? Which amassing reveals new longings, the goal of which may not be reached without wrong to someone.... Wherefore the baseness of riches is manifest enough by reason of all their characteristics, and so a man of right appetite and of true knowledge never loves them; and not loving them does not unite himself to them, but ever wishes them to be far removed from him, save as they be ordained to some necessary service.... The Perfect City (_From "The Republic" of Plato_) (Greek philosopher, B.C. 429-347) We have, it seems, discovered other things, which our guardians must by all means watch against, that they may nowise escape their notice and steal into the city. What kinds of things are these? Riches, said I, and poverty. Concerning Independence BY LUCRETIUS (Latin poet, B.C. 95-52) But if men would live up to reason's rules, They would not bow and scrape to wealthy fools. (_From The Hitopadesa_) (Hindu religious work, B.C. 250) It is better to abandon life than flatter the base. Impoverishment is better than luxury through another's wealth. Not to attend at the door of the wealthy, and not to use the voice of petition, these imply the best life of a man. BY XENOPHON (Greek historian, B.C. Fourth Century)