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 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. 
Every honest miller has a golden thumb.
Every honest miller has a golden thumb.
Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.
Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.
 A thirst for gold,
 The beggar's vice, which can but overwhelm
  The meanest hearts.  
 A thirst for gold,
 The beggar's vice, which can but overwhelm
  The meanest hearts. 
It is much better to have your gold in the hand than in the heart.
It is much better to have your gold in the hand than in the heart.
 You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of 
thorns--you shall not crucify mankind upon read more 
 You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of 
thorns--you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold! 
A mask of gold hides all deformities.
A mask of gold hides all deformities.
 (Portia:) A quarrel ho! already! What's the matter?
 (Gratiano:) About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring
  read more 
 (Portia:) A quarrel ho! already! What's the matter?
 (Gratiano:) About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring
  That she did give me, whose posy was
   For all the world like cutler's poetry
    Upon a knife--'Love me, and leave me not.' 
 What nature wants, commodious gold bestows;
 'Tis thus we cut the bread another sows.  
 What nature wants, commodious gold bestows;
 'Tis thus we cut the bread another sows.