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.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
Curst greed of gold, what crimes thy tyrant power has caused.
Curst greed of gold, what crimes thy tyrant power has caused.
The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is read more
The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is the fellow who gets on.
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.
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.
What female heart can gold despise?
What cat's averse to fish?
What female heart can gold despise?
What cat's averse to fish?
Gold's father is dirt, yet it regards itself as noble.
Gold's father is dirt, yet it regards itself as noble.
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.]
Truth comes to us from the past, then, like gold washed down from the mountains.
Truth comes to us from the past, then, like gold washed down from the mountains.
The lust of gold succeeds the rage of conquest;
The lust of gold, unfeeling and remorseless!
The read more
The lust of gold succeeds the rage of conquest;
The lust of gold, unfeeling and remorseless!
The last corruption of degenerate man.
