Pecuniæ obediunt omnia

Money masters all things. All things obey, or are subservient to money, it is therefore the principal object of our attention. «Sine me vocari pessimum, ut dives vocer», call me what you will, so you do but adimit me to be rich. «Nemo an bonus: an dives omnes quaerisum». When about to treat with or enter into business with anyone, we do not so much inquire whether he is a good, as whether he is a rich man; «Nec quare et unde? Quid habeat, tantum rogant», nor by what means he acquired his money, but only how much he actually possesses. Gifts, we say, break through stone walls, for what virtue is proof against a bribe? "He that has money in his purse, cannot want a head for his shoulders." That is, he will never want persons to advice, assist, and defend him. I danari fan correre i cavallo, it is money that makes the mare to go. Por dinero bayla el perro, the dog dances for money; and Quien dinero tiene, hazo lo que quiere, he that has money may have what he pleases. «Plate sin with gold, and the strong arm of justice cannot reach it; clothe it in rags, a pigmy straw will pierce it». Volpone in the comedy of that name, addressing his gold, says Such are thy beauties, and our loves, dear saint, Riches! Thou dumb god, that giv'st all men tongues; That canst do naught, and yet mak'st men do all things; The price of souls; even hell, with thee to boot, Is made worth heaven. Thou art virtue, fame, Honour, and all things else. Who can get thee, He shall be noble, valient, honest, wise." On the other hand, we are told, that Fortune makes those whom she most favours fools; "Fortuna nimium quem favet, stultum facit," and "Ubi mens plurima, ibi minima fortuna," those who abound in knowledge are usually most deficient in money. It has also been observed, that riches excite envy, and often expose the possessors of it to danger: the storm passes over the shrub, but tears up the oak by its roots. "God help the rich," we say,"the poor can beg." "Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator," the thief who makes the rich man to tremble, excites no alarm in the breast of the beggar; he has nothing to lose. "Hence, robbers hance, to yonder wealthier door, Unenvied poverty protects the poor." "Non esse cupidum, pecunia est, non esse emacem, vectigal est," not to be covetous, to desire riches, is wealth; not to be extravagant or expensive, is an estate. Hence poverty has been called, the harbour of peace and security, where indisturbed sleep and undissemled joys do dwells. "Fidelius rident tuguria," the laughter of the cottage is more hearty and sincere than that of the court: great wealth therefore conduces but little to happiness: and "as he who has health is young; so he who owes nothing is rich." "Dantur quidem bonis, ne quis mala estimet; malis autem, ne quis nimis bona," riches are given to the good, St Austin says, that they may not be esteemed and evil; to the bad, that they may not be too highly valued.