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.
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Every honest miller has a golden thumb.
Every honest miller has a golden thumb.
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!
Gold's father is dirt, yet it regards itself as noble.
Gold's father is dirt, yet it regards itself as noble.
Gold gives to the ugliest thing a certain charming air,
For that without it were else a miserable affair.
read more
Gold gives to the ugliest thing a certain charming air,
For that without it were else a miserable affair.
[Fr., L'or donne aux plus laids certain charme pour plaire,
Et que sans lui le reste est une triste affaire.]
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.
If you are truthful you will have as much gold as you want.
If you are truthful you will have as much gold as you want.
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.
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.
Not Philip, but Phillip's gold, took the cities of Greece.
Not Philip, but Phillip's gold, took the cities of Greece.
